“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out” (Proverbs 18:15).

John Chrysostom was an early church father who had a considerable influence on the faith of others. 

He said that there were four things Christians can’t help doing: praying, praising, being generous, and reading Scripture and studying the insights of others.

Those all make sense.

Today let’s focus on the last part of what he said: studying the insights of others.

There have been so many great thinkers who have had incredible insights about God, life, relationships, making decisions, setting priorities, and so many other things. 

Primarily, these insights are in the Bible. Various human authors share wisdom that is ultimately from God himself. So those are clearly the most important! 

Secondarily, there are books by other Christians throughout history. These types of resources can be particularly helpful when your devotional life needs a kick-start.

Let’s face it, we can experience dry patches. When that happens, picking up a book by a faithful author who has had a different life experience than you can breathe new life into your devotional time.

Nothing is a substitute for the basics of Bible-reading and prayer. But there are times when Chrysostom’s advice to study the insights of others is a useful supplement and nourishment.

During the pandemic I was personally encouraged by a collection of Martin Luther’s letters. I was inspired by his courage, his creativity, and his passion for wanting people to live in a way which was authentic to their faith.

Might you also benefit from studying the insights of others? Perhaps you would benefit from the devotional classic, “The Valley of Vision.” Or perhaps you could look up a biography of someone who has had a big impact on your particular Christian tradition. Maybe you could even reach out to a trusted friend and ask for recommendations.

There are times when we are helped in the footsteps of Jesus by learning from others who are also walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”

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Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.