Week of Prayer and Fasting - Day 5 Study

Growth - Study

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Be diligent, prepare for, work toward... the idea that is presented here also includes the idea of study ... in fact one translation puts it exactly that way.  Study!  Why?  Paul tells Timothy to study so that he will rightly divide the word of truth.  In other words so that he will know, understand and use the Bible correctly.

It is no different than anything else in life.  We go to school to learn the right and acceptable ways to do things.  It requires us to read, memorize, learn, understand and demonstrate understanding (read “exams”).

We see from the verse above that the main reason for study is about our relationship with God.  We don’t want to be found to misrepresent Him or His word.  As much as possible we want to be faithful to Him.  It is not, as many people think, about being right or wrong.  It is about what God’s intention is for people, His best.

There are many places throughout scripture that we are encouraged to study.  It doesn’t always say “study” and often depending on the translation it might say study in one translation and have a different word in another.  However we do see the idea of preparing, being ready, carefully considering etc.

Psa. 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You. 

Prov. 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your heart to my knowledge; 

Prov. 22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;

Let them all be fixed upon your lips, 

Prov. 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD;

I have instructed you today, even you. 

Paul encourages Timothy in a later part of the same letter to preach the Word and be prepared in all seasons for all that is necessary for careful instruction.  Peter likewise tells his readers in 1 Peter 3 to be prepared to give an answer to anyone that asks us to give a reason for the hope that we have.

Two other quick thoughts.  In Ezra 7 it tells us that Ezra had devoted his heart or prepared his heart to study the law.  It wasn’t just an academic exercise but he studied to observe or apply God’s word.  Ezra helped the people return to following the Lord after their captivity and to rebuild Israel.

On the other hand in John 5 Jesus is talking to the Jews and He tells them the following:

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

The Jews had the scriptures and studied them, but then were not ready to believe them or do them.  So their study did them little good.  But God wants this for our benefit.