I have picked up a copy of The Life and Diary of David Brainerd that was given to me years ago. The introduction gives a brief biography of Jonathan Edwards, since Edwards was responsible for publishing Brainerd’s work. The testimony of Jonathan Edwards is like water on dry ground in my life.

My mind was greatly engaged to spend my time in reading and meditating on Christ, on the beauty and excellency of His person, and the lovely way of salvation by free grace in Him. I found no books so delightful to me, as those which treated on these subjects.

When he came to Christ he was all in. 

When he entered ministry, he did so with great care. He was finished with his formal training by the age of 20 (a masters degree from Yale), and was pastoring a small church in New York City. He wouldn’t agree to accept a permanent position until he had given himself to six more years of study after his graduation from college. Edwards didn’t want to enter into the ministry with haste, nor did he want to enter the ministry feeling all he could be was superficial.

This isn’t a case for more education simply for the sake of more education. This is a plea to all of us as ministers to keep on learning. Stay thirsty! We never “arrive” theologically. I am different (hopefully in good ways) theologically than I was 20 years ago. I need the refreshing of the Spirit in my life. I need the refreshing of the Word. I need the refreshing of my mind.

One of my favorite teachers in Bible college was Dr. Don Meyer. His favorite mantra was, “Never stop yearning to keep on learning!”

Edwards stayed fresh in his spiritual life because he kept his pursuit of God vibrant. He was rigorous in his pursuit of spiritual knowledge and kept it up his entire life.

Stay thirsty, my friend!