"The only way by which you can ever attain true meekness, is to have your heart imbued with a humble opinion of yourself and respect for others.”
John Calvin
As I reflect on how God has been working on my heart in 2021, I realise how much I have changed. From my daily habits to thought patterns to my relationships. Dreams and ambitions to my work ethic. I am constantly evolving. And I praise and give glory to my Father, through the Spirit, I am changing into the person who looks more and more like Christ.
Finishing my master's programme in missiology has taught me so much. Theology impacts all aspects of our lives because our thoughts and actions change when we clearly understand God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12: 1-3
Our true worship is our whole lives.
The Christian is constantly changing, always conforming to the image of Jesus.
The renewing of our minds transforms us so that we will be able to know what is pleasing to God.
I thank God, especially for my supervisor, Dr Alistair Wilson, for allowing me to work as his student and teaching me the importance of reading widely and listening to scholars who differ in my theological views on secondary matters.
I used to be quite strong in my views, and sometimes it translates into how I think about people and how I treat them. When it comes to secondary matters (apart from bruising or violating the gospel), I have learned to listen, learn, and strive to understand the opinions of others and not be quick to bark at them like a mad dog.
Here are some things I have learned in my post-graduate studies.
Never Assume You Know It All - As a strong-willed, confident person. I sometimes think I'm the only person "in the room who's got it all together". The reality is, when I assume I know everything about a topic I am talking about or writing and researching about, I leave no room to grow in my understanding of that specific topic. I've met scholars with PhD's and experts in their field who are humble enough to say, "I am still learning", "there's so much to learn still". What humility! We reflect Christ's humble heart when we grind our pride to dust. John Calvin writes, "The only way by which you can ever attain true meekness, is to have your heart imbued with a humble opinion of yourself and respect for others.” Indeed! I have gained more insight when I come into something with a humble heart.
Link Arms With Others - It is easy to live your college life independently, especially when you are doing it online, studying from home. For the first few months of my post-graduate, I felt lonely and depressed. I was stuck in my four-walled space, researching and staring at my laptop all day. Link arms with your teacher, link arms with your classmates, link arms with your spouse and link arms with your local church. I was trapped in the mindset of studying for my own sake. But when I realised, everything I do is for God's glory, why am I trying to do it all on my own? Calvin writes, "For he who has learned to look to God in everything he does, is at the same time diverted from all vain thoughts." Everything we do must be for the Lord. Because we are not our own anymore, we have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20). This truth helped me persevere in my studies because it was not about me anymore. It was about Him whom I am serving. It is about what I can contribute to the church. It is about growing in my knowledge and love for the Lord to serve the church better. It is about learning to live a life worthy of the gospel and proclaim it to those who have not yet believed in Jesus.
Learn Not To Become Smarter But To Behold God's Glory - I have a quote from Paul Washer that I wrote on a sticky note, so I am reminded every time I sit on my working chair that my goal is not to become smarter. My goal is to behold the glory of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit. Washer once said "Go to your studies, flee there. Not to become smarter than the next man, but to behold his glory." If my study of theology is not making me praise and glorify God, then I am doing theology wrong. As someone who is insecure about "not being smart enough", this is something that I have struggled with since I can remember.
May we study theology to behold God's beauty, May we study the Scriptures to give Him glory, always.
We are not our own; therefore, neither is our own reason or will to rule our acts and counsels. We are not our own; therefore, let us not make it our end to seek what may be agreeable to our carnal nature. We are not our own; therefore, as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and the things that are ours. On the other hand, we are God’s; let us, therefore, live and die to him (Rom. 14:8). We are God’s; therefore, let his wisdom and will preside over all our actions. We are God’s; to him, then, as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed.
The Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin
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