LEARNING DAILY

2 Timothy 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I do not make New Year resolutions; I would not keep them if I did. That being said, there are a few things I certainly need to work on as I walk the narrow way with the Lord. If you have read this blog for any length of time, you will know the encouragement to be diligent in your walk with God. Being diligent refers to being conscientious about our walk with Him; I want to focus more on the things I say and do, especially in the area of allowing God to have His way in my life. I have wasted a lot of time trying to manipulate Him into using me the way I think He should; I cannot remember a time that has worked.

Paul was writing to Timothy to caution him to stay diligent in how he handled the Word of God. The verse before the one above, Paul was reminding Timothy of those who were trying to distract the focus of Believers so they would follow a different teaching, an easier way to follow the Lord. There are still preachers who preach to “tickle the ears” of their followers; they preach an easier gospel that says walking a broad way will still get you to heaven. As Paul cautioned Timothy to “rightly divide the Word of God”, Believers today must be thorough in their study and application of God’s Word. David Jeremiah wrote in the notes of his Study Bible, “Shallow sermons lead to shallow saints and mistaken preaching leads to misguided lives. In other words, bad doctrine demolishes faith, causing people to think and live wrongly, while good doctrine – based on a right understanding of the word of truth – builds up and fortifies faith”.

In the previous verses, Paul condemned arguing and discussing pointless matters. In verse 15, Paul was encouraging a deeper study of God’s Word. That does two things. First, it certainly helps the Believer to know God’s Word and to be able to defend their faith. It also helps the Believer to know when something is worth arguing about and that which is just some distracting argument.

I am planning on this helping me to take each day as it comes. I am trying to stop suggesting ways I can help God save the world and everyone around me and just trust Him. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know I am God”. Translated the verse means to stop striving and know that God has each day in His hands and will guide me to do what He wants. I cannot fix the problems I see around me and cannot do anything to change the minds of those who do not want to ask Jesus into their hearts nor change those who want to make Scripture fit their lives. But I can pray. I can study in order to “rightly divide the word of truth”. I can try to encourage those around me and those who read this blog to walk the narrow way in the midst of their trials, tribulations, and their successes in life. I can walk in the measure of faith God has given me through the Lord Jesus Christ and can be ready to explain to anyone who asks about the hope I have as I walk a narrow way. And, I can look forward to seeing what God does as a result.