Thursday, April 07, 2005
God's Word
The Importance of God's Word
"What do you believe? Why do you believe it? What does your church teach about this? What position do you think Christians should hold concerning this issue confronting our society?"
Do these questions make you feel uneasy? If confronted by a neighbor, co-worker, or a representative of another faith, would you gladly respond with a well-reasoned, Bible-based answer or stutter something about never discussing religion or politics?
Our answers to these questions indicate how much we have
grown in our knowledge of our Lord. Paul writes,” Do your best to present yourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." To understand Scripture is to know God and to properly apply Scripture in our daily lives to our current circumstances is to serve God. To function as God intends we must: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. "God expects us to learn His Word so that we may please Him by sharing it with others and by modeling it in our approach to everyday living. His expectation alone should cause us to study. But there is more: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---His good, pleasing and perfect
will." So, our knowledge of Scripture affects others by first affecting us. We are continually being improved by gaining a wisdom found only in God's Word. We each become more Christ-like and collectively as Christ's church bring Him to the world.
To paraphrase Paul: How can we bring what we do not have? How can we have, if we have not learned? How can we learn, if we will not study?
Let's make our congregation a place where study is not only expected but is also accomplished. To do less is to weaken our relationship to God, His church, and His cause.
