Studying the “great cloud of witnesses”* that have gone on before us can help us live godly lives today.

Reading outside our comfort zones can stretch and grow us. We take what we read and apply it to Scripture, doing what the Berean Jews did with Paul’s teachings, “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ¹² Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men” (Acts 10-12). Had these Jews not listened outside their comfort zones, they would not have received Paul’s message. Instead, may Jews came to believe as well as many Greek men and women.

In doing some research I came across this teaching on habitus. It sounds a lot like Christian discipleship, but more pointed:

The habitus of theology is the God-given disposition or temperament for receiving, confessing, and living in accord with divine teaching. It includes several things: Reverence for God and His will (cf. the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer); teachableness before Holy Scripture; gratitude to God for the wisdom of the saints, especially when our own judgment becomes too idiosyncratic; and a sense that growth in understanding comes about more by prayer and repentance than by philosophical acumen because the end of theology is fellowship with God “who dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). From Mere Orthodoxy

When I read this teaching, I realized that my knowledge of the church Fathers is woefully lacking, so I will be looking into some. I am hoping to learn how people in the past followed Christ, and in so doing, learn how to better follow Christ today. I invite you to come with me.

Abba, even with the early church fathers, we must be careful to read with Scripture in mind. May You give us faithful guides as we study their history and learn from them. Exciting times, Lord! Amen.

*Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [from the “hall of faith” given in the previous chapter], let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,“