Show me, teach me
In the book of Psalms we read,
"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4,5.
If you believe this then you need to be praying and studying the Bible. You need to join with other believers asking God to show you his precepts. And you need to be asking God how you can live a life in a way that is pleasing to Him.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it.
With Trusted teachers
The Apostle Peter states,
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute."2Peter2:1,2
This is happening today. There are many around the world who claim to be Christian but are not. These people deliberately twist the word of God for their own gains. Thus we must be well informed when it comes to the scriptures.
The apostle Paul telling us,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
In order to handle the word of God correctly we need to study it for ourselves and with trusted pastors and teachers.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it.
The Psalmist writes,
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path."
If you consider yourself a true Christian. It is important that Gods word illuminates your way. The scriptures exist to give us a moral compass to live by as well as pointing us to salvation and our eternal home in heaven. Thus it is incumbent on us to not just read the scriptures but study them as well. So that we know what they say.
The apostle Paul writes,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
Thus my question to you is. Are you studying the scriptures? And, Is Gods word a lamp to your feet and a light to your path?
Please think about it.
Fact Check
"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.
This is a message the church today needs to listen to.
Over the years the church has sadly gained a lot of spiritual and material baggage God never intended it to have. As such we must take care and assess whether or not the Church congregation or denomination is truly teaching the word of God. We must ask the question whether or not the evangelist or pastor we support is truly teaching the word of God.
The apostle Paul writes,
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.
We are in the time Paul is talking about. As such we need study not just read the Bible. We should never simply take the word of any man or woman who is teaching the word of God. We should be asking ourselves “are they teaching sound doctrine?”
If you claim to be a Christian, have you ever fact checked what the pastor or evangelist you listen to? If not why not?
Please think about it.
Why do you believe
The apostle Paul writes,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
To many believers do not know why they believe what they believe. Rather they simply trust the pastor, evangelist, or teacher they are listening to at a given time.
There is nothing wrong with questioning a pastor, evangelist, or Bible teacher about their beliefs and how they back those beliefs with Scripture.
An honest Bible teacher will always be willing to tell you how he come to believe what he does.
That being said I firmly believe that individual Christian have a duty to study the Bible for themselves. Praying and asking God to show them the meaning of what they are studying.
So my question to you dear reader is,
Do you study the scriptures for yourself or do you solely rely on the people you are listening to?
Please think about it.
The upward call.
The apostle Paul writes,
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14.
Here Paul sets an example for us all. He presses toward “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
As believers in Christ Jesus it is important to “press into God’s word”, the Bible. We must endeavour to do all we can to learn about the God, and Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
The only way we can handle the word of truth is by knowing what the scriptures say. That means not just reading the Bible but studying what it says.
Question, do you just read the Bible or do you study what it says?
Please think about it.
For evermore
The Psalmist writes,
"Seek the Lord, and His strength:
seek His face evermore."
Psalm 105:4.
Being a Christian not simply saying “I believe in God and that Jesus paid the price for my sins”.
Being a Christian is going before God continually to seek His wisdom and guidance.
The late American evangelist Billy Graham,
“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham
In our lives we will have many ups and downs.
The key however whether we are in one of the valleys of life or having a mountain top experience is to seek God continually.
We do this by studying the scriptures, praying, and praising God.
Do you seek The Lord continually in good times and in bad?
Please think about it.
Let us draw near to God
In the book of Hebrews we read,
“...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22,23.
Here we as believers are called to draw near to God. To my way of thinking that entails,
going to God in prayer daily.
Studying the Bible daily, not just reading it. Studying it looking at what it means to us. We need to study with an open mind that God will show us what is truth and show us any misconceptions we may have about scripture.
For if we don’t do this we will never grow in our Christian faith.
Please think about it.
Are you doing your best?
The apostle Paul writes,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
Your best. That is all God requires of you. Especially when it comes to handling the word of God. We are asked to do our best.
When it comes to the scriptures we need to study them for ourselves. At the same time we need to read commentaries and listen to teachers that both agree and disagree with what we believe.
I say we should listen to those we disagree with because if someone disagrees with our interpretation of the scriptures we should be asking the question. “why?”
Why do they believe as they do? Are they right in what they believe or am I right?
Through all of this we should be praying and asking Gods to direct us to what is right.
It is only after we have done all we feel we can do to interpret scripture correctly should we teach it.
If you are presenting the Gospel message to anyone are you doing your best to present it correctly?
Please think about it.
Correctly handling
The apostle Paul writes,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
So the question is are you doing your best to present the word of God correctly?
Do you question the preachers, evangelist, or teachers you listen to?
Do you take their word that what they are saying is correct, inerrant?
I firmly believe that there is only one way to know if what we are presenting as Gods word is correct and that is by prayer, bible study, and having a multitude of council.
We need not only to listen to those we agree with us but to listen to those we disagree with. When someone disagrees with what we believe we need to ask ourselves “why to they believe that way” “am I right in my beliefs or are they?”
We need also to gather around us study bibles. We also need study books that agree and disagree with what we believe. Again asking the question, is what I believe right or wrong?
But above all we need to realize the only true source of all Christian knowledge comes from the Bible and anyone who dose not agree with it is not a Christian.
So are you studying the Bible?
Are you doing your best to correctly handle the word of God?
Please think about it.
Look to Jesus
In the book of Hebrews we read,
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.
I have sadly seen many people over the years turn away from God. They have had bad experiences with people calling themselves Christians who are not. And this doesn’t apply to people sitting in the pew. By far most of the people I see who have turned from God have done so because of a pastor, evangelist or other so called Christian leader.
Many follow a given Christian preacher only to fall when the preacher falls.
Christians should never follow unquestioning anyone claiming to be a Christian teacher. We should be keeping our eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.
In order to do this we need to not just read the Bible but rather pray and study it, carefully. It is only in doing so that we can learn what is right in the sight of God.
By studying scripture we can steer away from false teachers and draw near to God.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it.
Expel the wicked
The apostle Paul writes,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are told by Jesus not to judge others. And as Christians other for our own personal safety we should not be judging others. Especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.
I’ve also heard it said we should not judge Gods elect. That being said the apostle Paul makes it clear that we should not judge those outside the church. But we can judge those inside the church. Those who claim to be Christians who are teaching wrong doctrine.
Sadly however here in North America the church is reluctant to do this. Even if they do the person expelled simply sets up his or her independent ministry.
It is for this reason we as individual Christians need to study the Bible for ourselves. Praying and asking God’s guidance as we do. That way we are less likely to be misled by false teachers.
When was the last time you studied the Bible for yourself? Studied the Bible not just read it.
Please think about it.
The day is here
Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.
That day is here. Today where I live in North America there are many calling themselves Christians who are not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
These are men and women. Evangelist, pastors, deacons, even those sitting in the pews who are not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
There are hundreds of reasons this is happening ranging I suppose from those who misuse Gods word for financial gain. To those who are following a particular pastor or evangelist rather than God.
It is easy to stray away from God. At times it can be difficult to remain faithful and worship in spirit and in truth.
The bottom line here however, I believe is at the very least we are closer to Christ’ return to this earth and Gods judgement on this earth than were believers in the time of the apostles.
We have no time to waste on debating things that are unimportant to our belief in Christ. We have no time to for lack of a better phrase, “do our own thing”.
We in 2022 need to be studying the word of God, praying and asking for Gods understanding of His word. We need to do all we can to draw closer to God in our everyday life.
And we at least in some way reach out with the Gospel message to those around us.
Please think about it.
Teach me
The Psalmist writes,
“Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Psalm 143:10.
Here is a simple truth. In order to know the will of God we need to study the word of God. We need to read the Bible every day. Additionally we need to take sometime each day to pray and ask God for direction in our lives.
Question; If you claim to be a Christians. A follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?
Please think about it.
Most Christians don’t
The Psalmist writes,
“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4,5.
Over the years I’ve met many Christians that I don’t believe study the Bible. They may read it but they don’t study it.
Many times I’ve asked the question to fellow Christians “why do you believe what you believe” only to get the reply “well such and such an evangelist, or pastor said it was that way”
This should not be so. We need to study the scriptures for ourselves to truly understand what they mean. To see if the evangelist, or pastor we are listening to is truly presenting the scriptures correctly.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
We can only do this if we are studying the word of God for ourselves to see if what we believe and have been taught is indeed correct.
Please think about it.
Advice from Paul
The apostle Paul writes,
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17.
This advice from Paul couldn’t be more simple. We are to study the scriptures and take them to heart. Teach one another. Interact with one another, with the purpose of helping each other grow in Christ.
We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude to God for all he has done for us. For his amazing grace that comes through Christ Jesus.
Paul finishes by saying “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Do you do this?
Please think about it.
