School is back in session for another year. Despite distractions at many levels this is always a watershed time for students. While many dread going back to school in September others enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with friends, participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities and there are even a few who enjoy the opportunity to learn new things. For me, I love the opportunity to coach a new season of high school cross country. Excitement always builds as I anticipate what my team will look like. This attitude should not be reserved for children, teenagers and college students (or coaches!) alone. We all should be eager for the opportunity to learn and grow as a result.
What does ‘back to school’ look like?
What does your ‘back to school’ look like and what is your attitude? Perhaps this is a figurative ‘back to school’ for you. During the summer you put your training on hold or shift it in another direction. September is here and now its time to get back to the grind. Again, what attitude do you bring to this new opportunity?
Paul wrote this to a young pastor still learning the ropes named Timothy: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim.2:15).
As a student presents their work to a teacher for review Paul reminds us that we too present our lives to God, the Great Teacher, for review and approval. What a concept! God judges our work as a fair teacher who has a set of standards but yet wants us to succeed and is on our side. A teacher in school can tell from experience if a student has not put in the effort on a project or test. So too can God tell if we’ve cut corners and disregarded the incredible gift of life we’ve been given. We don’t want to be ashamed, we want to please our teacher (do we??). The only way to do that is through effort and action. What does that mean? James told us that “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26), and that we are to be doers of the word and not listeners only (James 1:22). That’s how we go before our teacher and walk away unashamed. We live out our faith and the teachings of the Bible. We put the teaching we know and learn into action (that’s called application!) not being content to merely know it.
Correctly handling the word of truth
This brings us to Paul’s second point to Timothy- correctly handle the word of truth. God has given us the textbook for the course of life, the Bible. Yes, it tells us the great story of God’s love, purpose and plan for us, but it also gives us instruction on how to live as He’d have us. So, it’s our job to be students of it. We should be like the Bereans in Acts 17 who examined the Scriptures to ensure what they were hearing was correct (Acts 17:11). So that means finding a study, reading, being led by the Holy Spirit and ultimately learning. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb.4:12). When you engage with it fully it can’t help but transform you!
So this fall, be an active learner, not passive, it’s good for your spiritual health and is pleasing to the Great Teacher. If you enjoy being a student, super, stick with it. But if you’re like most (me included!) and you struggle with the day-in and day-out grind, reconnect, learn and then watch yourself grow. It’s time to go back to school!
