Learned-Received-Heard-Seen: DO. Philippians 4:9. “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
“Learned,” in this verse, goes beyond simply gaining knowledge. It includes practicing something until it becomes a part of you. This means that by doing the same thing repeatedly until it becomes second nature in both awareness and action, it becomes normal to us in practice and knowledge. We do this in our own way by practicing what we have been taught by others who serve as examples of what is right and by “practicing what we preach.”
Paul intended that those who read this epistle live according to what they learned from his teaching, aligned with the Gospel message he received and passed on, using his life as an example for theirs. He assured them that if they did so, the peace of God would be with them. He spoke from experience, even though he had suffered greatly from those who opposed him.
Exposure to the truth is one thing; practicing it is another. Good role models are not perfect people, but the overall direction of their lives provides a good example for us to follow. Integrity, honesty, faithfulness, grace, and love in a person are easily seen and felt. Overly self-confident people may have a lot of knowledge and awareness of what is right, but they often have an arrogant demeanor and a patronizing attitude toward those they teach and lead. The peace of God is not present in them, and they tend to create an atmosphere of tension and distance between people.
We had read the words they read, perhaps understood all their meanings, and maybe could explain their theme and what they aimed to teach us. They didn’t just spend time on superficial insights as they prepared their lesson. The subject matter was organized and delivered systematically; their study was evidently thorough and took a lot of time. All that knowledge is valuable; it keeps the mind engaged, but that is not the main goal of learning – not the true objective. What I have learned, now I must practice so that truth becomes more than just a subjective experience.
I have often listened to well-taught men unpack the scriptures of truth, and through them, I have been blessed. Some of what I have learned, I have shared with others so they can realize all the valuable teaching they missed by not attending a conference or a series of believers’ meetings. But the real point is, what I now understand, having heard it from them, I am responsible for applying it and making it a genuine part of my life. God, who gave this to me through His servants, now expects me to demonstrate through my actions that I may be truly wise and able to share the truth of God with others.
In many conversations and in various ways, I have heard God’s Word presented to me. How I interpret it and what I do with it is my responsibility. It’s easy to debate what a passage means in an effort to clarify points beyond all the hours a teacher has spent studying and meditating. Because I have heard their teachings from the scriptures, hearing, learning, and receiving are reasons I dare not ignore what God has shown me through men like Paul and those who speak for God. I am supposed to share what I have learned by making changes from who I was before I heard the voice of God through them.
I have seen faithful Christians, preachers, and people who live out what they preach in their everyday lives. They practiced what they knew and gave me much to think about and consider how I would respond to what they taught. They didn’t just talk; by walking in the light, I am taught by their actions when situations arise that challenge their loyalty and faith. They did what was right, and when they chose to do what they had learned, received, heard, and experienced the presence of the God of peace with them, I learned the value of acting with grace and grateful acceptance of what I had learned, received, and heard.
True things are genuine and real. We should dedicate ourselves to them instead of indulging in fantasies and wishful thinking. Honesty reflects reliability and moral integrity, which are evident in our service to others. When someone is just, they treat people fairly and are righteous before God. The Bible mentions several "just" individuals, and their justice is the central trait of their lives. Consistently living with moral integrity makes one's character pure. While temptations will always try to draw us toward the flesh, a person with a pure heart will "see God" even in daily life.