What Makes Someone an "Expert" Spiritually?

What makes an expert? 

I've been a Christian for over forty years, and I still learn things from new converts and baby Christians.

But in some areas, I want advice from experts. 

For example, I've been married for over fifty years, so I probably wouldn't seek marriage counseling from a newlywed. In the same way, when I want to better understand something in Scripture, I'm more likely to research things written by well-respected Bible-believing Bible scholars.

I thought about this when I read Ephesians 4:1 where Paul writes: 
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." 

Paul wrote what the Spirit directed him to write, but he was more than a Spirit-directed author. He was living a Spirit-directed life.

Paul was persecuted, mocked, slandered, and beaten for his faith (2 Corinthians 11:21-33). As a "prisoner for the Lord" he had firsthand knowledge of God's love, provision, purposes, and holiness.

I'm thankful that God gave us His Word, and I'm thankful that He gave us examples like Paul.

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Why not improve your "expertise" by studying the book of Ephesians this week.

If you'd like to do a little Bible study on Ephesians, why not answer these questions from each chapter:

1. What has Christ blessed us with? Ephesians 1:3  
2. Why did God raise Christ up into the heavenly realm? Ephesians 2:7 
3. Can we fully understand God's great love? Ephesians 3:19  
4. What does Christ teach us to "put off"? Ephesians 4:22  
5. What kind of people will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Ephesians 5:5  
6. What should every Christian have buckled around his/her waist? Ephesians 6:14  

You can also study 6 Attitudes of the World explained in Ephesians 4. And you can better understand your purpose in life by reading Life Expectancy and Ephesians 2:10. I also recommend Glowing, Growing, Knowing, Seeing, Fleeing which contains important truths from Ephesians 5.

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