Tuesday: The Benefits of Studying God’s Word
There are multiple benefits of studying the Word of God. The apostle Peter tells us that through the promises of Scripture we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). James speaks of the “implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21, NKJV). Paul adds that “the word of His grace … is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32, NKJV). The Bible has a redemptive purpose. Seeing Jesus in all of Scripture, we are changed. By beholding Him in His word, we become like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). “It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell”. — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 555.
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17 and John 17:14-17. What additional benefits come from studying the Word of God?
Image © Robert McKain at Goodsalt.com
Writing to his young companion Timothy, the apostle Paul urges him to be faithful to Scripture and shares the benefits of studying the inspired Word. According to Paul, the Bible is “profitable for doctrine”. It reveals truth and exposes error. It outlines God’s plan for the human race. It reproves our sins, corrects our erroneous thinking, and instructs us in righteousness. The Scriptures reveal the righteousness of Christ. They lead us from the folly of our own sinfulness to the beauty of His righteousness. When we see Jesus’ unselfish love in contrast to our self-centeredness, we stand amazed. As we behold in Scripture the depth of His compassion and caring, our lives are changed. When we share His word with others, they, too, are radically transformed. Beholding Jesus in His word, we become more like Him. Witnessing is not about sharing what we think or even what we believe. It is all about sharing the eternal truths found in the Word of God. When the Word of God has incredibly blessed our lives, we have the credibility to tell others how it can bless their lives, too.
| Think about a time of difficulty that you personally faced and how the Word of God proved to be a strength to you. What did you learn from that experience? |
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I was a little perplexed when I read the title of today's lesson "The Benefits of Studying God's Word" because it raised the notion in my mind of "cost-benefit analysis" and all that goes with it. It just goes to show that we carry a lot of baggage with us when we try and understand English expressions.
Jesus raised the perspective on the issue of Bible study when he said:
Simply put, the study of the Word of God is of no benefit if you do not find Jesus in it.
I have probably told you about my engagement to Carmel. (Writing comments as frequently as I do, has its problems - I have to reuse illustrations ) Carmel and I became engaged and around the same time that Carmel was appointed to teach at a school in New Zealand. I, on the other hand, remained in Australia to complete my first university degree. It was a mind-numbing blow to our relationship because we had seen other couples in similar circumstances, split up. We were separated for 12 months and in those days the only viable communication was letter writing. Neither of us had a lot of money and phone calls cost an arm and a leg. So we wrote to one another and read one another's letters. For 12 months we kept our relationship alive by reading and writing to one another. During that time we learned a lot about one another. It was not just reading, it was developing a relationship. It was much more than a "benefit", it was a key element in the rest of our lives together.
When we read the "Word", are we just reading words or are we getting to know the "Word"? And I don't mean that in some sort of schmaltzy love way, but in the practical sense of sharing that love selflessly to those who need it most.
"....and the word became flesh and dwelt among us...". until and unless the word becomes alive in us, for us, seeing Jesus a new, scriptures are merely that, words! then the question becomes meaningful...creating relationship with Jesus! This is how we behold in order to become, to be transformed...
David says praise the LORD and don't forget His benefits, read Ps 103:1-6
The Plan of Salvation in nutshell!
I like the Paul instruction to Timothy about the "God-breathed word." In paraphrasing the four benefits of the word it goes like this: the Scripture tells us what is right, what is not right, how to get right and how to stay right.
I have a quote written in one of my bibles that says, "This word will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this Word."
Bible study isn't just beneficial, it is necessary for life in the Christian walk.
By beholding(prayerfully reading and meditating) on the Bible, we avoid subtle spiritualism. What is subtle spiritualism? It is neglecting daily study of His word, where we behold Christ.
We need to put our Lord and Saviour before us. Psalms 16:7-11. When we daily put Our Lord and Saviour before us, we are pulled out of the quagmire of self gratification, lusts, and sensational inclinations.
Let's ask, believe, and claim God's promises. The Word of Grace is sufficient to lift us into a Holy atmosphere where the rich current of His love is able to build us up, and give us an inheritance among those who are sanctified. Compare with: Acts 20:32.
The Word is our life-line. Clearly, without it we will perish. We understand the Bible as God’s Manual for living. Therefore, if we are unfamiliar with the Manual then we cannot live productive lives and will consequently perish physically and spiritually.
"Thy word/law"...
"is a lamp"
"gives light"
"is hid in my heart that I might not sin"
"is my meditation"
"is within my heart"
"is perfect"
"(gives) great peace"
Jesus prayed that we would be sanctified by God's word/truth.
The very will of God for us is expressed in this word, and those who are "transformed by the renewing of [their] minds" will learn it that they might "prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God" to those still mired in the pit of sin. Only this truth can save(justify and sanctify) them.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 1:1
The Benefits of Studying God’s Word
We knew the benefits of studying the word goes far beyond what was mentioned by the author. Many humans/Christians have not even started scratching those benefits.
The Audacity of Faith
Today my scripture is Luke 8:43-48. This story portrayed a woman who was poor because she had spent all of her life savings to get well. Being sick for 12 years with a problem she tried all the doctors. I like to list some she might have tried-(family doctors, surgical doctors, bush doctors, homeopathic, other modalities of healings) but to no avail. Now she heard about and saw someone who was healing and doing miracles. She had no chance of speaking to him for her to be healed. Yesterday we looked at the spoken words of Jesus. She probably thought Jesus was not even thinking about her with so many people pressing against him with all of their troubles and worries. Not to mention his bodyguards, the disciples.
This woman came with a mustard seed Faith to Jesus. At this time she was desperate. She was not leaving until she was healed, but the only way to be healed was the thought of touching the hem of his garment. Luke 8:44
This is a sin, sick world. How many good things did we hear for the week in comparison to the bad things? As Christians, are we desperate for healing for ourselves and the world around us? Are we reaching out to Jesus with just a touch of his garment?
Are we reaching out in faith, trusting, and believing his words so it can change us as it changes the woman with the issue of blood? Mere reading the bible will not activate the faith.
Hymn # 616. Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armor on...
'The Saviour could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless throng.... It was not through the outward contact with Him, but through the faith which took hold on His divine power, that the cure was wrought.' {DA 344.3}
'The wondering crowd that pressed close about Christ realized no accession of vital power. But when the suffering woman put forth her hand to touch Him, believing that she would be made whole, she felt the healing virtue. So in spiritual things. To talk of religion in a casual way, to pray without soul hunger and living faith avails nothing. A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigour, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power. {DA 347.1}
question for today-Think about a time of difficulty that you personally faced and how the Word of God proved to be a strength to you.
There were so many times/instances that came to my mind. Years ago things were so bad in my former country. Lack of employment was an issue. I had a little stall/tray (3' by 4') selling things to help myself with the basics for life. I had a friend who stated they had difficulties reaching their job and needed to borrow some money. They also needed some money to buy food as well to take to their job. They promised to return the money as soon as they got paid at the end of the month. I had some money saving to purchase some things to put back on the tray. In good faith and trying to be 'nice', I lend the money to the friend. The month pass, no friend no money. The same turned to years and never saw that friend. Was I 'con' out of my only life sayings? Years after my mother told me the friend came looking for me. The friend didn't give her any money. Probably the friend thought I was still as foolish as those past years. I could not do anything except pray and cry. Then stopped crying and just kept praying.
Knowledge and understanding, generated from sources based in this world, cannot 'benefit' our new 'Self-identity'. The new self is now a combination of flesh and spirit, with the living Holy Spirit guiding and directing the mind to find Truth and to motivate the soul to express this new nature whenever and wherever we are led to do so. It is now the Word of God - the spiritual Interpreter of all Truth - which teaches us all things.
Again, Ellen White is an eloquent, spirit filled writer; I say 'is', because through her spirit filled writings her spirit, enveloped by the Holy Spirit, lives on. Her comments used here are a pleasure for the soul's spirit; they are the Holy Spirit's nourishment.
I love reading the Word of God; it provides a special type of joyful and exciting experience; like going on a journey and entering a different world of deeper meanings and spiritual Truths.
Our spiritual journey began with our spirit responding to God's drawing through His Holy Spirit. He is continuing to develop the new nature within us until we draw our last breath. The living Word imparts to us that which all the world's knowledge cannot; it provides life-giving food for the soul. We need spiritual nourishment, mana from Heaven to sustain us, as we live in this world but are no longer of this world. John17:14-17
The lesson writer makes it very clear, using words related to spiritually discerned parts of our new nature, that we are a new creature. Just as the body is real in space and time, so is the spirit soul real in spiritual eternity. Without food to nourish our soul's spirit, the spirit within us will wither and become ineffectual to hear and be directed to guide our new nature.
James1:21 speaks of the 'implanted word'. The living Word is the spiritual component of our physical body. It needs to be nourished through spiritual food from the Word of God like unwavering faith for it to produce its fruit; like the Tree of Life - it lives, and it gives life; this is His purpose.
John 4:10-14 speaks to the Gift of God to be Living Water; but not only that - it compares it to the Well itself. v.14: ... 'but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a 'well of water' springing up into everlasting life'.
Is it not incredibly wonderful to read the symbolic language of the Spirit were everyday things are being transformed into food for the spiritual Soul?
Praising God from whom all blessings flow!