Transformational Study

             When I first read the chapter on Study for this week’s discipline, I really felt like it was going to be something that was easy.  I mean, I am a college student.  Studying is a discipline that I have perfected throughout my fifteen years (oh. my. goodness.  I have been in school for FIFTEEN YEARS?!?) of education.  It is something that comes naturally to me and something that I actually enjoy doing and can find my identity in.  The concept of this discipline was comfortable.  I honestly didn’t really expect to get anything out of taking more time to study, either God’s word or the general revelation that He provides in the canvas of creation.

            The discipline of study is generally defined as really paying attention to God’s world.  This careful attention and analysis should cause our minds and thought patterns to form around what is dwelt upon the most.  Study, when done properly, involves five distinct things:  repetition, concentration, comprehension, reflection, and humility.  As I read this, it sounded very stiff and not freeing to bring me into further relationship with Christ.  However, after thinking about this discipline of study more, I realized that God doesn’t want us to just accept everything with blind faith.  As human beings, we are called and made to analyze and question and reflect upon the different aspects of this world.  This in itself can be an act of worship.

            In order to participate in the discipline of study, I felt the need to pick a particular passage of scripture that can sometimes be overlooked.  Throughout the day, I wanted to be able to quietly sit and reflect on this passage, really taking the time to concentrate on the words and reflect.  I chose Ephesians 4:1-16 –

            “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling that you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  This is why it says:  ‘When he ascended on high, he led the captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’  (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?  He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

            Overall, I feel like this discipline came at just the right time.  Although I did not read this passage as much as I would have liked, the times I did read during the day were filled with peace and hope.  Throughout the various times of reading these verses in Ephesians, I would notice something completely new about the passage that I had never really seen before.  Even as I just typed the passage out a few seconds ago, I noticed new things that struck me.  Isn’t it wonderful how God’s Word continues to prick us and leave impressions? 

            This passage has really made me think over the past couple of days about the unity of the Church and how we all need to find our place in it.  As the semester continues to race by, I am becoming more and more aware of how I really have no plans for my future.  When praying over this fact, I found myself drawn to the words of this Scripture and how it speaks about Christ being sovereign over all and giving different gifts to different people in order to foster unity in the Church.  It gave me huge comfort that, no matter what happens, God is Lord overall and in control.  This convicting thought then spills over into interactions with other people, hopefully creating a community that honors God above all else.