This month I celebrate 50 years of faith. It was sort of a family legend that I put my faith in Jesus as a 4 year old boy. But a few years ago I saw my baby book with my mom’s handwritten note in September 1972 documenting the fact…
Fifty years is a long time. I have tried not to live the same year over and over, but to make progress continually throughout the half-century span. So here’s a lesson I’ve learned that has served me well, and I thing will put you in a good place as well.
Stay Curious.
They say curiosity killed the cat – but that’s definitely not the case here. Curiosity is an engine for spiritual growth.
I think curiosity is really an attitude toward learning. It’s a desire to know something. And when it comes to your faith, that is a very good and empowering thing.
- Be curious to know about God’s Word and what it has to say.
- Be curious about theology and doctrine. It defines statements that we hold to be true. It’s hugely valuable to know truth.
- Be curious about history and what was happening in and around the stories you read in your Bible. This isn’t a fantasy document, it’s about real people and real places. The more you know about the history, the better you’ll understand the stories.
- Be curious about the history of your faith and how it has been sustained through the years and centuries and millennia. This will encourage you as you see the lives of men and women who faithfully passed it forward to you.
- Be curious about your church and how it fits into God’s grand plan for all of history. Is it faithful in presenting the gospel? Edifying believers?
- Be curious about your own spiritual gifting. What role do you have to play? How can you get engaged productively? This isn’t a spectator sport, you’re expected to be on the field.
- Be curious about what has been written about God and His word. There are a lot of books out there that can help you understand – especially if you’re digging in on your own as well.
I could go on and on. But here’s the big idea: Being curious leads to learning and growth. It’s the opposite of stagnation.
You don’t have to be curious about everything all at once. That’s not the point. Pick one at a time and spend some time diving into it. Learn. Understand more and better.
Staying curious makes every year with Jesus new and different from the ones that came before. It’s the antidote to becoming stagnant in your faith.
I’ve pursued many different lines of curiosity over 50 years. Some of it shows up in my books. Some of it is books that I haven’t written yet. But I know one thing. For however much longer I’m allotted to live on this earth, I want to stay curious.
God is too good and wonderful to be ignored. I always want to be learning about Him. I want to be growing in relationship and faith.
I hope this encourages you as well. I hope you will be inspired to pursue curiosity in a way related to your faith. I’d love to hear from you if you do. What are you curious about?
I’ll be back next week with another lesson from 50 years with Jesus. But until then… stay curious!
Dennis
