Learn

Learn from me (Matthew 11:29).

Education is important. It is so important that our government has established the public school system and has laws against truancy. We want our children to be well educated for a number of reasons. We want our kids prepared for good paying jobs. When our kids reach voting age, we want them to be able to understand the issues and cast their votes wisely.

A good education is important throughout life. Some types of work require ongoing training, especially in the sciences where new discoveries are made every year. But everyone can benefit from a habit of casual study. The brain is like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the healthier it becomes.

A lot of people have bad memories of school. These bad memories can sour you on learning. But learning does not have to be hard or unpleasant; there are many ways to enrich your mind.

Some people learn by doing; many go on short trips to other countries where they work to rebuild a town after a disaster or help a missionary teach about Jesus. They come home full of excitement over the things they have learned.

Many people learn best through stories. They might doze off during a lecture, but are fascinated by watching a documentary. When Mel Gibson made his movie about Jesus’ suffering and death, The Passion of the Christ helped many people understand just how deeply God loves sinners.

Some people shy away from study because they are overscheduled; they just don’t have any more time or energy left for study. This is when audio books come in handy; you can listen and learn while exercising or driving in your car. There are many versions of the Bible available on CD, ranging from a single person reading God’s Word to an entire cast accompanied by music and sound effects.

Improving your mind is important at any age, and there are many ways to do it. Especially important is what you know about Christ; find a way to know Him better, and your time will be well spent.