I've been ruminating lately about the place that learning/intellectualism should have in the aspirations of a Christian. I confess I've only witnessed the dangers of over-emphasis on erudition; naturally, I can't help but feel it is more perilous to err on that side than the other. Some Christians are deathly afraid of being ridiculed as ignorant by the world and sadly end up adopting its inflated views of academia. I was one of them. Some can balance great learning with great humility and servanthood, but for me it is only a crippling source of pride.

I still don't understand the interface between our responsibility and God's sovereignty. I don't think I ever will. It seems to me that there are things that God has commanded me to do, that these things could very well take up most of my time, and that, if I make them my focus, I won't have time to wonder whether God will use this or that questionable activity to His glory. Khrist Kirk would call me a legalist -- but I can't see how drawing a hard line on this would be to my detriment if its result is that I spend more time in pursuit of God, more time in worship, more time in service, more time in amassing knowledge of Christ, of God's grace, of His love. Knowing God could consume every ato-second of my life and still leave me panting for more. What better pursuit could there be on this earth?

This is not to say I succeed in placing Him first in my life -- this is more me preaching to myself than anything else. How easy such things are to write -- how hard to do! My prayer is that my focus will always, only, be conformity to Christ and more love to Him. Let me know Christ and be ignorant in everything else.