If I do something, I want to start what I finish, or remain faithful to it. That’s why I don’t start a lot of things because I project the likely “Peter Out” factor. If it’s high, I decline.

I was doing some calculations. I started the practice of getting up early and studying the Bible in 1978. I’ve been pretty consistent with that over 33 years. This means that at a very conservative 3/4 hours a day, I’ve logged 9,034 hours studying the Bible since 1978. 

I checked the Dallas Seminary degree plan for a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies degree. That’s a two-year master’s degree taking 4 semesters to complete on-site, which are about 116 days each. This equates to 464 24-hour days to earn the degree. Now that’s not what is likely to occur–you’ve got to sleep–so let’s say 16 hours a day of study time, or 8,352 hours.

So comparing what I’ve done over the past 33 years to the seminary’s requirements for a master’s degree, I’m at least due for an honorary degree!

But you can’t do this without consistent day-in, day-out activity. I value this approach, and I think the Lord does too. “Go to the ant.” Proverbs 6:6

Suffice it to say, if you want to be a biblical scholar and apt to teach “in season and out of season,” start logging some early morning hours of study now and check back in a few years.