March 10: Jesus over Degrees

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

I recently saw a brief conversation between evangelist J. John and renown Christian writer, preacher and teacher, R. T. Kendall. In the chat, J. John asks Kendall what his one main advice would be to a younger Kendall, now that he was much older in years and had 70 years of experience in ministry. Kendall who has authored more than 50 books, and has a few doctorate degrees from prestigious universities gave this very insightful advice:

“I realise I got some degrees but I would say to young ministers today, “I would not recommend seminary, I think of Acts 4:13 and how when the Sadducees and the Pharisees saw the boldness of Peter and John, and that they were uneducated and untrained. My advice to anybody, two things: Know your Bible & Pray a lot!”

He goes on to say that many people do not know the Bible enough, and that many preachers read the Bible only when they want to preach it. He goes to emphasizes that if there was one thing he wanted to leave as a legacy it would be for people to know the Bible. To know God’s Word and His ways. And that happens only through spending time with God. And God will use that person to exceed all the PhDs and seminary degrees.

Isn’t that amazing? Someone with so many degrees and books and accomplishments in this world conclude that all of that pales in comparison to simply spending with the Bible. Well, the Bible is not just any other book with stories from of old, and good teachings. The Bible is God’s Word. And if you have read your Bible you will know that the Word is Jesus Christ Himself. As John the apostle revealed in John 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” In short, spending time with the Bible is equivalent to spending time with Jesus.

In a world where technology has taken over, and most people’s Bibles are in their phones, one has to wonder how much of a quality time is possible with Jesus compared to reading the physical Bible. The phone is quick and easy. The physical copy takes time, even to flip pages between one portion to another. But if you have experienced reading the physical copy, you know that nothing beats that. If you haven’t, then it’s time to dust off that Bible, pick it up and spend time with it.

Spend time with God’s word whenever you can. Not just when you are in trouble, or just in passing during family prayer or morning devotion. Let it take over your mind and your thoughts. Let it consume your being. Let it saturate you so much that everything that comes out your mouth has a touch of God’s Word in it. Wouldn’t that be beautiful? Powerful? Yes. It will. God’s Word is not only life changing, its is life giving! Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Then people will see and perceive that you have been with Jesus. The degrees and the training might help, but it is nowhere close to direct encounter with God’s Word.

Take a decision will you? Put that phone aside. Take that beautiful leather bound book. And start reading it. Like it’s the first time. And do it as often as you can. There is no good or bad time. And see what happens to you.