Not the Most Smart, But Growing
Let's consider a few questions:
Could our knowledge of God grow—of who He is, of what He’s done, of what He says, and of His ways?
Would it be helpful for us to know more about the God and His Words to us?
None of us would say that we’ve had all the help we need from God thank you very much! All of us would admit that knowing more about God and His ways and His Word is probably going to be helpful in understanding our lives, our selves, this world, and probably everything.
So let us “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2Peter 3:17)
And also let’s “think over what [the Bible says], for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2Tim 2:7)
No one becomes a Christian and is The Most Smart. Everyone becomes a Christian—and remains a Christian—with cognitive limits.
We all have varied kinds of intelligence, and various I.Q.’s, and different ways of learning, and different educational backgrounds. And we all have different stories we tell ourselves about our mental abilities.
And laced through these limitations are other attributes all humans share, such as laziness, selfishness, and pride, such as ambition, idolatry, and fixations. All of these have an impact on our minds, our way of thinking, our thoughts and viewpoints, our conclusions and opinions.
So we may safely say that all of us have room to grow. To love the Lord with *all our minds? There’s quite a bit of space between where we are today, and whatever “all” means.
Do Christians have to be smart? Do they have to be nerds? Do they have to use big words? Do they have to always be reading?
Well of course not. Most Christians have been illiterate. Most Christians have lacked formal education. Most Christians have not been trained in rhetoric, logic, or public speaking. Most Christians have not been the top of the class, so to speak. (see 1Cor 1:26)
But let’s reframe those questions.
Does any Christian completely lack intelligence? No. Every Christian can think. Does any Christian completely lack all intellectual curiosity? No. Every Christian has things in this world they like to “nerd out” about. Every Christian, being human, is interested in things. Has any Christian received no education or has no interest in educational materials? No. Every Christian has received some kind of education and is interested in learning some things. (And, would any illiterate, uneducated, untrained, Christian have leapt at the chance to read their own Bible for themselves? Absolutely!)
So we’ve established that —apart from a physical trauma or disease—we have brains, minds, thoughts, curiosity, interests, memories, etc.
And we’ve established that we also have the capacity to grow.
And we’ve observed that learning more about God and His ways would be a helpful direction in which to grow, as this is His World, we are His creations, and we are His people.
So let me suggest, here at the outset of 2025, that we make it a feature of our lives to seek to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2Peter 3:17) That is, that we “think over what [the Bible says], and [ask the Lord to] give us understanding.” (2Tim 2:7)
Suggestions:
Every day, read or listen to the Bible. Select a word, phrase, verse, or story from your reading to think prayerfully about.
Every Sunday, attend church, taken notes, and then, later in the week, re-listen to the sermon.
Note how much time you give to distracting or harmful media. Try to decrease that amount week by week. Experiment with media fasts.
Try to read or listen to a book. And then maybe another.
Keep a log of helpful quotes or ideas. Note questions or insights from these passages of Scripture, or sermons, or books.
Father,
Your word tells us that You give understanding. And that You give understanding through our thinking over things. And so we ought to seek to grow in knowledge of You.
So Lord, we ask that You give us, first, a desire to grow in knowing You. Second, that You help us to take the time and give the attention to thinking things over. And then, Lord, that You grant us understanding in these things.
Lord, we thank You for our minds. Help us to employ them for Your glory, in love for You, and help us to grow.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.