Lately I’ve been studying for some things and have remembered the importance of homework, or the work you do on your own to be sure you understand what you’ve been taught. Also lately I’ve thought about this concept as it applies to the process of sanctification, the process of becoming who and what I am in Christ. First I learn the concept. I read it, or someone teaches it to me, or both. Then I am given examples and shown how it works. Then I’m given some practice to try it on my own so I know I understand. Then I get the test on it.
No one is supposed to do my homework or practice questions for me. Someone can certainly help me with my homework and practice, be it a friend or the Teacher Himself, but if they do it for me then that means I miss out on how to properly apply a concept myself, and then when the need comes for me to actually use it myself, I’ll either manage the problem ineptly or I won’t know how to handle the problem at all.
Sometimes I think I know what I’m doing and I don’t feel the need to do the homework or practice. But if I do them anyway, I get a confidence boost knowing that I do know what I’m doing. Or I find out I don’t really know what I’m doing, so I fix that problem before I run into trouble with it on the test or just in life when I need the concept. Either way, I learn a little bit more about what I’m doing so I can handle things better later.
When it comes to the tests, sometimes I pass and sometimes I need to go back and try again. Sometimes I need to revisit a concept if it’s been a while. But God always knows just what to teach us and what kind of homework we need.
Related:
A Bit on Sanctification
The Process of Sanctification