In a society that often values self-indulgence and entertainment over education and study, what should God’s workers do with the Word of Truth? This question was put forth by Gary G. Hoag in an article for Christian Leadership Alliance.
From the first line of text, Hoag emphasizes that the Bible is a gift:
Consider these messages in light of 2 Timothy 2:15. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Here, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to study the Scriptures so that he need not be ashamed and in order to correctly handle it.
Do you realize the significance of what is in your hands? For more that 1,500 of the first 2,000 years of church history, the typical disciple did not have a copy of the Bible to read! Today we have study Bibles, Bible apps, and a host of versions.
Hoag offers three suggested disciplines to encourage Christians to seek God wholeheartedly by paying close attention to how they handle His written Word. But, as Hoag notes, these are not “magical formulas” or set-in-stone practices. They are formational exercises to help believers draw closer to God in order to better know and carry out His Will:
1. Read God’s Word Sacredly
Hoag describes sacred reading as reading God’s Word, and then asking the Spirit to instruct you from the text. After doing so, try re-reading the passage, taking time to respond, or talking to God based on your discernments from the text.
“The aim of sacred reading is to allow the living and active word of God to speak into every area of each of our lives before we talk about it with others.”
2. Discuss God’s Word Socially
Posting verses or prayers to social media that resonate with you is a wonderful way to generate conversation and engagement in our culture about God’s Word. But don’t forget the ever-important yet often forgotten method of face-to-face, peer-to-peer conversation. As Hoag noted, “whether in large groups or 1:1, studying God’s Word socially is learning through reading Scripture aloud together.”
Reading the same chapters or passages, and then discussing them with each other is a meaningful way to immerse yourself in God’s Word. As an added “bonus,” it encourages brothers and sisters in Christ to strengthen one another.
3. Scrutinize God’s Word Studiously
Don’t just “read” Scripture: examine it, look closely at it, pay attention to details. The prophet Ezra aimed to spend his whole life doing this:
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. - Ezra 7:10
Today, we have commentaries and tools to enhance our understanding of the context and message for each Scripture passage. Don’t be afraid to explore them, as they could vastly supplement your own understanding. As Hoag describes, “They are gifts from biblical scholars who have dedicated their lives to exploring the Scriptures in order to bring to life what’s going on in the text.”
In summary, believers should read His Word sacredly, because the Spirit will use it to shape us into the image of Christ. Discuss His Holy Word socially as well, because learning together strengthens our faith, and helps to foster our community. Finally, scrutinize Scripture studiously, in order to know how to rightly handle it, and be ready to account for our stewardship of this marvelous gift.
If these practices sound too time-consuming for your life right now, then consider services such as Christian Union Day and Night to aid your spiritual strengthening. Christian Union Day and Night devotionals are designed precisely for the purpose of giving Christian men and women the ability to seek God in a busy world.
The Bible is a beautiful to gift to us from God. He has already given us so much. The least we can do, to thank Him in a small way for His great gifts, is to devote a little time every day to seek His face, so that He may draw ever closer to us.
