15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is important to know how to be effective in studying the Bible. Generally, studying the Bible requires that you know the content, facts and context of the information of interest, or subject matter. You must gain knowledge before you can gain understanding. First, you must know who the Word is speaking or addressed to. Second, understand in what context the Word is speaking, which speaks to the circumstances surrounding the discourse. Third, you also have to learn about who said what? This is very important because it is not everything that was said in the Bible that was said by God Himself, although all scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit to point our attention to God’s will and purpose for us. There are different people who said different things at different times. Fourth, while studying the Bible, you need to understand Scriptures or promises that are conditional, that is, you are looking out for cause and effects. You are asking, ‘Is there any condition attached for this promise given to be fulfilled?’ For example, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The condition for being a new creature according to this Scripture is not praying excessively, it is being in Christ, that is, getting born again. So, if you are praying to God to please make you a new creature, you are wasting your precious time; for that will never happen by prayer. The only condition given by the Word to become a new creature is salvation, getting saved.
Another example is found in Isaiah 1:19 which says, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” The Word is always explicitly clear about what to do to get the required or desired result. The good of the land is already yours in Christ but to enjoy it, you need to be willing and obedient to God regarding His mind or will for you. If a believer starts to beg God to please let him eat the good of the land, such a person isn’t engaging the intelligence of the Word in prayer. Why? The condition has been expressly stated, that to enter into that experience of enjoying the good of the land, you must be willing and obedient. When it comes to learning the Word, you must be very careful to know what exactly God is saying first of all. God desires knowledge first before sacrifice. It is not so much of what you can give God as it is what He has already given you in Christ and the exact knowledge as to offering your worship to Him acceptably. Many a time, people are too quick to know what to do and how to do what they want to do for God without taking quality time to know God and understand first of all what He is saying to them. You must be patient to seek God in the place of meditation. You must learn to stay with Scriptures until the Spirit opens them to you.
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare that I am a diligent student of the Word. I walk in the light of the Word consistently in Jesus’ Name! Amen!
Further Meditation:
Joshua 1:8; Psalms 119:97.