A mature Christian is an informed Christian -- informed about the mind and heart of God by knowing scripture. A Christian knows about the world and its needs and works toward gaining the best insights on how to alleviate the hurting world's agonies. Human beings rise above the animal world of simple instincts when they become knowledgeable and use that knowledge to help build God's kingdom. Study, like piety, can be approached in an intentional, systematic way, resulting in a deeping of your relationship with God and an empowering of your Christian discipleship.

For more study possibilities, see the Emmaus Reading List's selections for Study.

Excerpted with permission from Day Four: The Pilgrim's Continued Journey by Robert Wood and Marie Livingston Roy. Copyright © 1986 by The Upper Room.