I was sitting in a prayer gathering for the city of Toronto as we were asking God to open up windows of calling for workers to begin ministry in our city for the Navigators. When we finished and were having conversation, one of our seasoned staff shared that being a disciple is being a learner.  While I may not have thought that this represented the definition fully, as I pondered the expression, I found myself appreciating it more and more.

We all learn somewhere – parents, siblings, coworkers, leaders, media, culture and others around us. What I do believe is that all attempts that do not begin with God will eventually betray me.

It would be the voices that point away from Jesus that provide me with a foundation that would be inadequate for my life. In fact, these voices cannot provide me with a foundation – they cannot teach me how to live.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? – 1 Corinthians 1:17-20  ESV

I know this does not mean I should not learn or critically think through things – it just means that I need to live by the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is a bit inverted to the ways of the world – dying in order to live, being last in order to be first. God’s way is like folly in our world. I need to remember, the voices of this world will be heard, but they ultimately lead to death.