Follow Their Lead

“I know of nothing more inspiring than that of making discoveries for one’s self.”
-George Washington Carver

We were born with an insatiable hunger to know. Unfortunately for many of us, that appetite to learn was not nurtured as we grew older, and we lost the sense of excitement and awe that accompanies discovery. Somehow we became too familiar with our surroundings, our relationships, and even with God’s Word.

Wonder, Delight, Awe

How do we restore that inborn curiosity and foster the desire to learn again? This happens to me each time I have the opportunity to spend a day with one of my young granddaughters—one is nine months of age, the other is eighteen months old. What wonder they express, such delight and awe at things I have forgotten to notice—the feel of grass on bare feet, the search for a bird that is singing in a tree nearby, the surprise at a sudden gust from a cool breeze, or the delight at a pet who wanders by. Watch the little ones, and follow their lead.

When you open the Bible to study, look at it as if it were totally new to you. Put away the grid of what you have always been told and discover what scripture says, and then learn what it means. In other words, study objectively and with the hunger of youth. If the passage is very familiar, think about what the author intended when he wrote and what were the circumstances surrounding his purpose. Look with the eyes of a little child.

Observe and Learn Together

My granddaughter who has learned to walk frequently takes my hand and leads me to the back door or to another room where she wants to show me something that interests her. We enjoy observing together whatever has caught her attention. And, of course, I am delighted to see what she has noticed and what draws her attention. Watching her learn and grow brings me much satisfaction, and the bond between us grows when she shares her knowledge with me.

Again we follow the lead of these little ones when we study the Bible. Find a friend who will learn with you. You don’t have to spend all your study time together. But periodically, maybe once a month, meet together and share what you are learning. Your friendship will grow, you will learn so much more, and your relationship with God will deepen.

Finding and implementing a method of studying the Bible can be life changing. Sharing what you are learning with someone else will take you to an even deeper level of learning and application.