Handle It Well
Today’s Verse:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ~ 2 Timothy 2:15
Paul constantly cautioned Timothy about false teachers and their seductive methods of twisting God’s word. He wanted to make sure Timothy did not get dragged into fruitless conversations and debates that Paul classified as “profane and vain babblings”. We must be careful that we do not intellectualize or spiritualize God’s word. So, Paul gives excellent counsel in how we should handle God’s word.
We see the diligence.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” The word study is a very strong word that means “endeavor”, “labor”, and be very diligent at. We must labor diligently in our study, comprehension, and application of God’s word. Paul goes on further by saying we should be a workman or laborer who does not need to be ashamed. We must give our self diligently and fervently to letting God’s word build us up so that we can build up others.
We see the discipline.
The idea of “workman that needeth not to be ashamed” has the idea of a structured routine. We must discipline our schedule so that never a day goes by that we do not study the word. We must discipline our reading so that we read carefully and not miss anything. We must discipline our mind and soul to receive the “engrafted word which is able to save your souls.” We must study with such discipline, it is evident in our life, speech and writings that we know God’s word, and God’s word knows us well.
We see the discernment.
Diligent study is so that we know what and why we believe about the scriptures. Paul describes this as “rightly dividing the word of truth”. It has the meaning of cutting straight. Correct study leads to correct interpretation. Correct study enables you to know the truth and not be bound to hearsay, frivolous questions and trying to find errors where there are no errors. Correct study leads to a growing consecrated life. Correct study balances us so that we do not have zeal without knowledge and knowledge without zeal.
We see the delight.
We must handle the word well so that we are approved unto God. God is pleased when his truth is understood and applied for the winning of lost souls and the building up of the believers. God is not pleased with confusing questions, contentious debates and twisted doctrine. I believe there is great loss at the judgment seat of Christ for those do not correctly study God’s word and who try to wrongly influence unsuspecting and ungrounded believers in their heresies and wrong ideas. Be a diligent student who has God’s approval.
Handle it well! Make it your goal to labor at the word and doctrine so that you are clear about what you believe.
Have a word filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Genesis 16-18