Back to School - Back in the Word of God

“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

Summer is over and the school bells are ringing. Buses are roaring down the street, classroom doors are opening, and children, teenagers and young adults are wandering the hallways trying to find their classroom. It is a new school year, a new grade level, new classes, a new campus, new rules, new influences, new teachers, and new requirements. It’s going to take more preparation for this year than it did last year, not only in school, but in life in general, as we see our way of living changing and as we draw closer to the coming of our Lord.

Now is the time to step up and increase our level of praying, fasting, seeking the Lord, and studying. False ideologies are becoming more complex - whether coming from educational institutions, the Supreme Court, the political circuit, the White House or even the Church - they are appealing to itching ears. Instead of falling prey to complex philosophical and mystical babblings we need to embrace the simplicity of the Gospel.

To do this, we study the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, “line upon line, precept upon precept”, so that we’ll be equipped to steer clear of useless arguments that will draw us away from the truth and we’ll be able to combat philosophical arguments that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. This requires laboring in the Word; we wrestle with it, we meditate on it, we “sit” with it, and we seek the Lord in prayer for understanding. When the time comes for our “work” to be inspected, when the trials and pressures come, will we be ashamed of our efforts?

We must remember we are seeking the Lord’s approval and not the approval of men. Will the Lord approve of how we handle the Word of God? We are often told that “we have to get it for ourselves” and we really do. The Lord gave us His Word so that we can use it. Use the Word to talk to Him and He’ll use the Word to talk back to you.

As we aim or strive to handle and teach the truth directly and correctly, we can think of the exactness demanded by some trades such as carpentry and masonry. If measurements are not exact, the foundation of a house or any other structure can develop cracks due to environmental and geological pressures and the whole building will come crashing down! In like manner, precision and accuracy are required in biblical interpretation because the interpreter is handling God’s Word. The wrong interpretation can lead a soul down the wrong path with disastrous eternal effects.

As we stand on the Word of God with confidence and assurance, the Lord will meet us in our study time with offensive and defensive strategies. During fiery trials and temptations, when it is time to wield the Sword of the Spirit, we’ll be able to handle our weapon with skill and precision because we have learned to rightly divide the Word of truth. We won’t beat around the bush, but we’ll get to the heart of the matter.

Everything we need is found in the Word of God, but we need to study it in order to apply it. Let’s get back in the “Book” and stay there!