Study to Show Thyself Approved unto God

The bible commands the children of God in II Timothy chapter two verse fifteen that we are to study to show ourselves approved to God. ~ Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ~ It's through this study of Gods word that we show ourselves approved to God by demonstrating that we have a genuine love for the truth and are willing to forsake the cares of this world to seek the truth continually. We must become students of Gods word so that we are able to teach it to others as God calls us to that purpose. The bible commands us to be ready always to give every man an answer that ask of us a reason of the hope that is in us. (I Peter 3:15) Now you must consider this question; how am I, as a servant of Christ, and child of the Most High God going to give others (whether they be within or without the called out of God) answers to their questions if I am not a dedicated, and zealous student of Gods word? I would ask that you really consider this question. I have found so many people in today's so-called church that are incapable of giving even the most basic answers to the most basic questions. This is a very terrible situation to be in, because being found there, is to be found not living out the life we are commanded to live out by Christ.

I once heard a sermon where the preacher asked a simple question; what is the number one quality that you will find in every Christian? He pointed out many different qualities that a Christian has, and that they all share together as the principles in which our Lord command us to live by; namely love, kindness, thankfulness, humility, joy, meekness, and many such others, but he put aside all these and proclaimed that there is one attribute which every true child of God shares which all these others are only a product of that one. He finally concluded that the number one thing every true child of the Father shares is a deep and longing desire for Gods word; to hear it, to speak it, to live it. And I must say that I found this to be the absolute truth. I thought to myself then and often still think now; how can someone say they love God when they spend so little time in His word? How can someone proclaim to be a child of The Most High God, and give so little effort to get to know Him better? How can someone profess Christ as Lord and King of their life and actually know so little about what he taught? How can anyone spend twenty hours a week entertaining themselves with worldly lust and desires and give God a couple hours one day a week. We are to be living epistles of God, cities set on a hill, lights which shine in the darkness of this world, the salt of the earth, and imitators of Christ. Christ said blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. (And with love I plead to you brothers and sisters in the Lord, turn to God with all your heart and turn away from the things of this world.)

Christ told us to learn of Him and He would give rest to our souls. ~ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29 ~ Gods absolute, fundamental, perfect, holy, and everlasting Truth is contained in the pages of the bible. Paul told Timothy that he must give himself to reading, and doctrine, and to meditate upon Gods word; to give his self wholly unto it, that his profiting may appear unto all. This also applies for all of us professing Christ as Lord today. ~ These things command and teach...be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity...give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that in is thee...Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. I Timothy 4:11 ~ Furthermore Christ has told us clearly that man does not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD which proceeds out of the mouth of God. If we are not studying the word; then how do we know the word by which we are COMMANDED to live? Could I learn the deep and advanced applications of mathematics if I never studied mathematics? Could I learn the deep and advanced laws and applications of physics if I ignored the studying of physics? or could I understand the proper and perfect way to apply any kinds of science if I never give attendance to the deep and thoughtful study of those sciences? Even still, could I build a house with a solid foundation that would stand up against terrible storms, and floods, and winds, if I had no knowledge of engineering, or architectural design, and principles of weight distribution. The most obvious and clear answer to these questions is no. So I ask you dear brothers and sisters in the Lord; can you walk a life in perfect, obedient, harmony; as imitators of Christ, as those who think as He thinks, who walk as He walks, who speak as He speaks, who love as He loves, who suffer as He suffered, who sacrifice as He sacrificed, who endure as He endures; if we are not passionate lovers and students of His holy and perfect word? which he gave for our instruction that we should walk in the straight and narrow path He has commanded us to walk if we want to enter into life. I ask any of you who read this to consider it with much thought, fasting, and prayer. The Lord loves and blesses those who love His word and live by it's precepts. Write the living Word of God on your hearts and in your mind and there shall be no hope of stumbling in you. You have power from on high; if you are a willing and obedient servant who desires the sincere milk of the Word which is able to save your souls. And always remember that it's not just the hearers of the law that are justified by God, but it's those who hear and do that which Christ our King has command us to do. Unless ye be reprobates...

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving you own selves. James 1:21-22

For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 2:13

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, expect ye be reprobates? II Corinthians 13:5