May 19th, 2020 – Morning Devotion With Pastor Dan
Have you ever heard of people studying the Bible by quickly flipping through the pages with their eyes closed, bringing their finger down on a verse, opening their eyes, and that verse was supposedly their God-given inspiration for the day? That is called, “studying the Bible Columbas Style,” where one searches and lands on a certain verse.
(2 Timothy 2:15)…..Be diligent (“study” in KJV) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We need to be careful about “how” we study God‘s word. How we study is very important in having an effective Bible study. Paul described this process as “rightly dividing the word of truth.” The phrase translated “rightly dividing” (Strong’s 3718), gives us the idea of a skilled craftsman cutting something straight. In the context of Bible study, it means taking the time for diligent, careful, and systematic study. It means teaching the truth logically and correctly. It is never good or beneficial to engage in a haphazard or hit-or-miss study of God’s word. Instead, we are to accurately discern and teach God’s truth to others, and this must be the priority of every conscientious follower of Christ. Take a moment and read these verses, (1 Peter 3:15) (Colossians 4:6) (2 Timothy 2:1-2, 24-26).
Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading the words on the pages. The following are seven guidelines to help us make the most of our study of God’s word:
- Set aside a regular time — Unless you schedule a specific and uninterrupted time for Bible study, you will more than likely neglect Bible study.
- Before you start reading — ask God for help in understanding the text.
- Carefully think about what you are reading — Not all of the Bible’s treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.
- Seek to understand what the author was communicating to the people who first read the book or letter before you decide how to properly apply it today.
- Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into everyday practice.
- Don’t get discouraged, stay at the task of studying – you may not understand the text immediately.
Read: (Proverbs 2:1-9) with the above guidelines in mind. Then study again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that, and so on and so on, remembering that the Bible’s treasures are found by those who dig for them.
When reading God’s Word, take special care to find the rich treasures hidden there; Give thought to each line, each precept clear, then practice it well with godly fear. —Anonymous