You are not alone 

Five years ago, I found myself at a place in my life where my emotions were out of control. Anxiety paralyzed me and I had no idea what had caused the downward spiral I found myself in.

I cried out to God, begging for relief. I asked question after question. “Will I ever feel normal again? Will this anxiety ever leave me? Will I ever find peace? Will I ever be able to rest at night and make it through my days without tears and anguish and pain?”

All I wanted was to rest in the everlasting arms of my Saviour. I wanted peace. The kind of peace that only God could give. I wanted to experience joy and happiness once again.

As I remember those dark days, I feel so saddened that I caused my family pain and isolated myself from my friends, pushing people away, wallowing in my misery, doubting my faith, while the all-consuming anxiety held me in its death-like grip.

If you find yourself in that place right now, please know that I’m sorry, I understand, I remember.

I know the shame that comes with the pain as a child of God, knowing you should be trusting in Jesus, but not having the strength to fully rest in him.

I know the darkness that hangs overhead, the waves that crash down upon you and roll you over and over, down and down into the abyss of deep depression.

I want you to know that there is hope. There is peace. There is comfort. And it is found in Jesus.

First, remember this. You are not alone. Your out-of-control emotions will cause you to feel anxious and your anxiety will fuel the fire that blazes in your mind, causing you to think that you are alone, unloved, uncared for.

But God is the God who sees.

One of the names of God in Hebrew is El Roi, which basically means, the God who sees. When we feel forgotten and invisible, God sees us. He knows about our struggles, and he comes alongside us. As a gentle shepherd tenderly caring for his sheep, we are the object of his love and care.

Second. The place you find yourself in, the turmoil in your mind, the battle with your emotions, does not mean you are weak or a failure. We will all feel overwhelmed at some time. Did you know that even the Lord Jesus experienced it?

Mark 14:34-35 KJV - And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

If you read through the whole passage, you’ll notice that Jesus did 3 things. He was honest about how he was feeling. He asked help from his friends, and he prayed to his Heavenly Father. What a beautiful example for us to follow.

We will all feel overwhelmed by our emotions at some point, but what matters is what we do with those emotions. As children of God, we have the power to take our thoughts captive.

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We are not a failure because of our anxiety. God can pull us up out of the pit and set our feet on a solid rock once again. He can still use us for His glory.

We have to choose to regulate our out-of-control emotions with God’s truth.

Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

It may take some time, but you can manage your fear and anxiety by getting into God’s Word, reading his truth and crying out to him in prayer. Hold fast to his promises. He tells us that he will bring peace if our mind is stayed on him. That word has the idea of being established, sustained, held up, resting, standing fast.

We have to keep our focus on him. We have to rely on him more than anyone or anything else. Yes, it is true that sometimes we may have to use medication, or seek counselling, but our main source of help should come from Christ himself.

Find verses of Scripture to declare over your heart and mind. Pray them aloud to God. Claim the promises you find in his Word. Trust in the Lord and believe that he can and will help you.

Reach out and ask a friend for help and counsel and prayer. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings. You don’t have to ride the storm alone.

God sees. He hears. He cares. He understands.

Isaiah 43:2 KJV - When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

God will be with you, and you will make it through. You can rise up from depression, anxiety, fear and worry.

You are not alone, and you are not a failure.

Proverbs 24:16 KJV - For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

A person who trusts in the Lord and depends on him, may fall, but he will rise up again. He will overcome the trials of life through God’s strength and enabling.

The ungodly have no power to rise again. They don’t have the power to rise above adversity. But we, as children of God, have God’s supernatural power to rely on.

We may fall, and we may go through difficult times, but we can get up again because we have a Saviour who is bigger than anything we’ll ever face. He’s stronger than any obstacle. He’s more powerful than any emotion that threatens to overwhelm us. And if we can have faith, even faith as small as a mustard seed, we will see miracles.

I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I want you to know that the darkness you face right now, can be replaced by light. The clouds will lift, the pain will ease, and you will rejoice in God’s goodness once again.

You have to make a choice to choose God’s truth over the lies that fill your mind. Fill your heart and mind with his Word and let your lips speak words of praise to your Heavenly Father.

Remember past victories. Relive beautiful memories in your mind. Dwell on what is pure and lovely and true.

Pray continually throughout the day. Let there always be a prayer in your heart and on your lips.

Search the Scriptures until you find promises that you can hold fast to, reading them over and over.

Listen to uplifting music that will feed your soul with messages of love and speak of God’s goodness to you.

Get out in nature and breathe in the fresh air. Listen to the birds. Immerse yourself in the beauty of a sunset or feel the rain on your face as you lift your eyes to Heaven in praise and worship of a God who loves you so much that he longs to spend time with you and hear your voice.  

He will never leave you. You are not alone.

Psalm 139:7-12 KJV - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

 

 

Be an Influencer for God! 

 

Are you an influencer? You may not think you are, but you can be! Be an influencer! Yes. I just said that. Now, before you go thinking that I’ve lost all my marbles, and decided to take the blog in another direction, please, calm down and read on.

The word ‘influencer’ is tossed around so much in our present day that I started thinking, what about if we, as Christians, began to consciously, wholeheartedly, determinedly and steadfastly, set our eyes upon the goal of becoming influencers for God?

Before I go into more on this subject, I want to refresh your mind as to what an influencer is, in the world’s definition.

Firstly, an influencer is someone who has the power to affect the decisions of others, because of his or her authority, knowledge, position or relationship with their audience.

Secondly, an influencer is someone who affects or changes the way other people behave and they have the ability to influence opinions.

Thirdly, an influencer is a person who is paid by a company to show and promote that company’s products and services on social media, encouraging others in their sphere of influence to buy them. They usually have specialized knowledge, authority or insight in a specific subject or field.

With those thoughts in mind, switch your thinking caps on, because I would like to ‘influence’ you to think about what I’m sharing with you and see what you can do to apply what God has shared with me.

Did you know that we are all influencers? When we decide to trust Jesus as our personal Saviour and ask Him into our lives, we become influencers. We have the ability to change the way others behave, by our testimony, our influence, our relationship.

More importantly, we are not just influencers, but ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

As an ambassador for Christ, we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the precious gospel message.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 - But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

As we go through our lives here on this earth, we are representing another kingdom. The heavenly kingdom where our citizenship lies. And we need to take the message of God’s love to everyone we meet.  We need to be Godly representatives of the heavenly kingdom. But we have to be wise.

Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

This world is full of wolves, and we are sheep. We must be wise. God is longing for His children to be good influencers. Wise ambassadors. People with clean testimonies, pure hearts and minds, Godly character, love, hope and joy.

As Christians, we are watched by the world. They are watching and judging all we do. We can choose to have a Godly influence over them and our fellow Christians, or we can choose to bring dishonour to God and have a bad testimony that brings shame upon God’s holy name.

The Bible reminds us that we are salt and light. Now that’s definitely an entirely different sermon on its own for another day, but let’s read what the Bible says.

Matthew 5:13-16 - Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We need to be salt, making the world thirsty for the living water. And we are to be light. A light in the darkness. Sharing the hope that lies within us. Letting God’s glory shine through us. When people see us, let it be God they see.

In the world, an influencer is all about getting attention. They want the glory and all eyes on them. Sadly, what starts as a small hobby or something to pass the time, can quickly become an obsession and a place of self-gratification. The addiction for more likes, more comments, more shares, can grow to an unhealthy point.  More more more!  

As an influencer for God, an ambassador for Christ, we need to be turning all eyes upon Him. We need to be continually turning the focus back on the Lord Jesus Christ, not on ourselves. We need to be giving God all the glory. We need to be influencing those around us to turn to God.

We can become ‘someone who has the power to affect the decisions of others’.  By our testimony, we can help show others the way that in turn, Lord willing, will see them come to know Christ on a personal level. We can ‘affect the way others behave’, just by setting a Godly example.

Yes. It is God that changes lives, but He allows us to have a part in that by being an example. Now, we may not be selling anything or encouraging anyone to buy a product, but we can encourage others to learn about the marvellous gift that God so freely gives to those who will accept it. And we can encourage others to grow in their Christian walk through study of the Word of God and our example.

How good would it be, if we as Christians, decided to become influencers for God? The shakers and movers in God’s kingdom. The ones who encourage others to deepen their relationship with the Lord through reading and studying the Bible. Through prayer, fellowship, love, good, sound teaching.

What are some ways we can become influencers for God?

1.      Be an example in our speech.

Our words need to reflect the love of Christ and be edifying and thankful and encouraging. Full of grace and seasoned with salt. Our words matter. How we talk matters. What we say matters.

Ephesians 5:4 - Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

 

2.      Be an example in how we act (our testimony)

1 Peter 1:15 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Our conversation, or testimony, our manner of life, our conduct, needs to be a good and Godly example. We can’t expect to be influencers for God if we act like the world. We need to look different to the world. Now, I don’t mean we have to dress oddly and stand out in a weird way, but people ought to be able to see that there is something different about how we act, what we enjoy, how we choose to relax, who we hang around with, what we do on the weekends.

3.      Be an example in love.

1 Corinthians 13 is a very well-known passage, but can I encourage you to read it all the way through? We need to be reminded about the importance of love in our Christian walk. We need to show love for others. Without love, our efforts are worthless. A tinkling cymbal.

[Interestingly enough, the Greek word for tinkling is Alalazo which means to ring loudly, or clang. So, it’s not a nice little ching, ching sound, it’s a clanging sound. An annoying, loud sound. Hmm, our words are annoying without love. But so are our actions. Without love, there is little profit.]

1 Corinthians 13:1-8  - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

        Be an example in faith.

People need to see our faith, not just hear about it. They need to see our faith in action. We need to practice what we preach. We need to share what we believe, and we need to live what we believe.

James 2:14-17 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

5.      Be an example in our pursuits.

Jeremiah 29:13 - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all our heart.

What is it you pursue? The praise of men? Attention? Money? Beauty? Fame? The Lord wants us to pursue Him with all our hearts. He promises that if we seek Him, we shall find Him. It’s not wrong to have goals, and it’s not wrong to have hobbies, but we need to make sure that they are the goals and hobbies that God would have us have. And we need to make sure that they are not leading us down a slippery slope of glorifying self. Sadly, too many today are obsessed with pursuits that do nothing to further the kingdom of God.

We are all influencers. In some way or another. We are influencing those around us on a daily basis. Whether it be our families, our co-workers, our ‘friends’ on social media or our church family. Any number of people come across our path as we go about our business, and any one of them can be influenced by us. The attitude that emanates from us is often more powerful than our words.

So how can we, as influencers for God, honour God with our influence?

How about we start by remembering who we are and who God is? Put God in His rightful place, high and lifted up, and us, in our proper place, in a place of humility. Remembering that we came from the dust of the earth and God in His love and mercy, came down to this earth to rescue our wretched souls from eternal damnation. He doesn’t owe us anything, and yet, He chose to extend to us His free gift of salvation.

Get the right perspective and be content to live in the shadows, 

letting God get all the glory.

John had it right when he said this:

John 3:30 - He must increase, but I must decrease.

He understood that God should get all the glory. He could have gloried in his own abilities and the following he had. John’s coming was foretold by a prophet many years before, his birth was miraculous, he was related to Jesus, people followed him all over the countryside and he baptised many. And yet, he understood his position. He chose to be an influencer for God, not himself.

The influencers of this world want all the attention to be centred upon themselves, but God wants us to give Him all the glory and be humble and meek. We need to be always pointing others to Christ and away from ourselves.

Don’t be concerned about how many followers you have. Be concerned about how many followers God has! Do your best to point others to Christ.

Don’t compare yourself to others around you, or those you see online. Be content to serve where God has placed you. In the town, in the church, in the family He has put you in. Don’t worry about what others are doing, just concern yourself with what you’re doing and where God would have you.

Be an influence on those in whose circles God has put you in. If God gives you the opportunity to share with a wider audience, then grab hold of it with both hands and pray that God would keep you humble and that you will be able to be an influencer of good in other’s lives.

I pray that as you’ve read through this post, that you have been challenged to be an influencer for God. I want to encourage you to take seriously this idea of letting your light shine forth into a dark world, influencing those around you for good and for God’s glory.

Whether you’re leading a Bible study group, teaching a Sunday School class, fulfilling your God-given role as a mum and wife as you raise your children, and loving others as you seek to encourage them, whatever you do and wherever your sphere of influence is, choose to bring glory to God’s name. More of him. Less of me.

Let’s encourage each other, as sisters in Christ, to be the kind of influencer that God would have us be.

1 Corinthians 10:31

 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

We have enough women and girls that know how to do their hair and makeup. We have enough women and girls who are up to date with the latest fashions.

What we need is women who want to promote God and his goodness! We need women who will stand firm in the faith and lead by example, teaching others how to walk in Godliness. We need women who will put God first and pursue him wholeheartedly, devotedly, sincerely and with a zeal that surpasses any other hobby or passion.

We need women dedicated to becoming students of the Word and who make reading and studying their Bibles a priority.

Be that woman! And become an influencer! An influencer for God’s kingdom!

 

 

 

It’s not enough just to read it. 

Move from milk to meat!

 

How Bible literate are you? We can all read and write. We, for the most part, all have basic literacy skills. But literacy is more than just the ability to read and write.

There is a growing problem in our world today amongst Christians. Bible illiteracy. Bible illiteracy is widespread. People just don’t read and study their Bibles. Or they read only certain likeable parts.  We know our basic Bible stories. We understand the basic timeline of events. Maybe we know the order of the books of the Bible. We know the basic who’s who of the Bible. But we don’t really KNOW our Bibles.

Bible literacy is NOT just factual knowledge, such as who did what. That’s knowledge – it is important, but Bible literacy goes beyond the storing of facts and trivia.

Bible literacy is not dependant on church attendance – sitting in church each week doesn’t guarantee you will go home with a better understanding of the Bible or who God is.

Bible literacy involves a deeper awareness of the meaning of what’s in the Bible. It’s the ability to rightly read and understand the Bible by using the proper tools of study.

Bible literacy involves a person’s ability to read the Bible with enough understanding to explain its basic meaning and comprehend what is meant.

Bible Study goes even deeper than Bible literacy - it is more rigorous and detail-focused. It is research focused interpretation (known as exegesis- the careful analytical study of scripture). It involves more than reading for meaning. Bible study focuses on the world behind the text such as the biblical culture and context, the archaeology and geography that support the Bible.  The social issues and events at the time the writers wrote the text.

Bible study looks into the heart of the text through word studies and language meaning etc.

Studying the Bible naturally leads to increase in Bible literacy.

In order to know God better, we have to develop a holy curiosity for the Word of God and a desire to dig deeper into the pages of Scripture. God loves to show us truth. He loves it when we have a holy curiosity for his Word and a hunger and thirst for the pages of Scripture.

We need to read our Bibles with an eager desire to learn. We need to read with passion and interest. We need to be on our way to heaven with a curiosity about what we’ve read and a fire that won’t be quenched. A fervent, excited, engaged mind, always wanting to read more, know more, learn more. We need to have such a love for the Word of God that we can’t go even one day without opening its pages to reveal the truths that lay in front of us.

We can’t rely on our Pastors and teachers and Christian reading material and commentaries to feed us. We need to be in the Word ourselves. Searching the Scriptures daily.

We need to be like the Bereans in the book of Acts.

Acts 17:11 KJV - These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

These Christians searched the Scriptures, making sure the things they were being taught were the truth. They didn’t just take Paul’s word for it.

I fear, that all too often, we think that the Pastor has all the answers and is always right. But we need to fact check them, and the others we listen to or watch, myself included. We need to make sure that what they’re saying lines up with the Word of God, and the only way we can do this is by being in the Word ourselves. Having our own personal study time.

We have to make a choice to be students of the Word.

Study of the Bible requires diligence and perseverance but it’s worth it.

A Canadian preacher from the 1800’s once said:

God has hidden every precious thing in such a way that it is a reward to the diligent, a prize to the earnest, but a disappointment to the slothful soul. All nature is arrayed against the lounger and the idler. The nut is hidden in its thorny case; the pearl is buried beneath the ocean waves; the gold is imprisoned in the rocky bosom of the mountains; the gem is found only after you crush the rock which encloses it; the very soil gives its harvest as a reward to the labouring farmer. So truth and God must be earnestly sought. A.B.Simpson:

Christians in general, and we have all been guilty, are often haphazard and lazy rather than diligent in their approach to God’s Word. We don’t systematically read, study or memorize it. We jump from passage to passage, pulling verses out of context. We don’t settle in and stay for a while. We don’t search diligently to discover what God’s Word teaches.

The Bible isn’t just a collection of nice stories and truths that make good song lyrics and saleable books. It really is our instruction manual for life. It needs to be studied and applied.

Bible study is essential for spiritual growth.  I understand that we all go through different seasons of life. And certain seasons may not allow us as much time in the Word as we would like. But if we want to grow in our Christian walk, then we must make time for it!

Study requires consistent reading, prayer, understanding and application. It helps us distinguish truth from error, overcome trials, deepen our relationship with God, and become better witnesses for him.

In studying the Bible, we are trying to understand what the Author has said and not allow our own opinions or views to cloud the meaning of what was written.

I began studying a verse in 2 Timothy recently and shared with my Ladies Bible Study the things I found. Stay with me as I try and expound on it a little.

First of all, who was Timothy? He was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. He joined Paul on a missionary journey. He had a Godly mother and grandmother. From a child he was taught the truth. He pastored a church at Ephesus.

Timothy had incredible advantages. He was taught the Word of God, he was discipled by Paul, he served with Paul in ministry. Timothy knew the Word of God and was well-equipped.

The book of 2 Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy, from a prison in Rome, shortly before Paul’s death.

Paul used his last words to express his concern for the churches and specifically for Timothy. He wanted to encourage the church to persevere (2 Timothy 3:14 KJV - But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them) and to proclaim the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.)

As I read through the book of 2 Timothy and thought about this idea of studying the Bible, I was reminded of a very familiar verse.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Despite Timothy’s history and Godly testimony and heritage, Paul still told Timothy that he needed to be diligent in the study of the Word and in rightly dividing the Word of truth. Paul knew that without staying in the Word, Timothy would not be able to stand firm and maintain sound teaching.

Paul warned him to pay attention to his teaching 1 Timothy 4:16 KJV - 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.

Paul encouraged Timothy to present himself a workman approved by God, who would not need to be ashamed because of his handling of the Word.

I always read this verse as ‘study’ as in study. Literally study. Look into. Reading. Devoting time and attention and acquiring knowledge. But I believe that it’s not just a command to study the Bible. There is more to the meaning than that.

The word ‘study’ here in this verse (used 11 times in the Bible):  translates in Greek as Spoudazo. Meaning: endeavour, do diligence, be diligent, give diligence, labour. To exert oneself. To make effort. To strive. Be earnest. To hasten.

It has the idea of hastening to do something with energy or with intense effort and motivation. It suggests zealous (fervent) concentration and diligent effort. It speaks of intensity of purpose. Intensity of effort toward that purpose.

It means giving maximum effort, doing your best, sparing no effort, hurrying on, being eager. Hastening to do a thing, exerting yourself, endeavouring to do it. Following through.

Study in this context does not stop with affecting your state of mind, but it also affects your activity. It’s a holy curiosity that leads to a holy zeal that demands dedication and action.  

So yes, we need to study the Bible, but it’s not all about reading, it’s about being diligent in everyday life. Living out what we learn. Applying it.

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God- this phrase is only found in the KJV. It is basically saying – present yourself to God in such a way that you receive His approval.  

When I began to look into this word ‘approved’ I found that in the original language, the Greek word is dokimos. It has the idea of being ‘tried and true’ or tested and proven genuine.

Donald Barnhouse (a Presbyterian Pastor in the USA) said this about this word: In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called “dokimos” or “approved”.

The idea is that when you put metal through a fiery testing, it comes out the other side proving itself genuine. A dokimos man or character is like metal which has been cleansed of all alloy and impurity.

In the book of James, we are reminded of the blessing that comes from trials.

James 1:12 KJV - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

We are to be diligent to present ourselves as a tried-and-true worker, worthy of God’s approval.

We go through testings and trials and Lord willing, we come through them stronger and more full of faith.

Note that it says, ‘unto God’. What we do is for the glory of God. Not in order to boast of ourselves.

Paul encourages Timothy to become a workman, a labourer in God’s kingdom, that is unashamed.

Sometimes we are ashamed at how little we know of the Bible. Which books were written by who. What the big words we use all the time mean. We often can’t explain them and find it difficult to recall references to well-known verses.

But if we are diligent and work hard at living life as God would have us to, serving him, glorifying him, going through trials with a good attitude, we can live unashamed.

But the main reason we can live unashamed is found in the last phrase of the verse.

“Rightly dividing the word of truth”: In the Greek it is the word Orthotomeo.

Orthos – right, standing upright, continuing in a straight direction. Right or proper.

Temno – cut or divide. Make a straight cut.

This phrase ‘rightly dividing’ is the only time it’s used in the New Testament. It basically means ‘cutting straight’.

There are differing ideas on the imagery used – that of farming – ploughing a field into straight furrows. Dividing the law into sections. Carpenters cutting timber. Dividing food evenly amongst family. Masons setting a straight line of bricks. Workmen building a straight road.

One commentator’s take on it is that Paul, being a tentmaker uses the expression that tied in with his trade. Paul used certain patterns. In ancient times, the tents were made from skins of animals in a patchwork design. Every piece was cut to fit together properly. If one was cut wrong, it would affect the end product.  

Whatever the case, the present tense used in this verse teaches us that we are to continually rightly divide the Word of Truth. We are to take no short cuts when we interpret and apply it. We are to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the enabling grace of Christ to make sure we cut it straight. False teachers have a habit of twisting the Scripture to their own benefit.

We are all teachers and preachers, or should be, to our family and friends and those we come in contact with on a daily basis. We need to make sure we are not deviating from or distorting the Bible’s message in any way. It is made very clear in Scripture how God feels about it.

Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV - Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18-19 KJV - For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

We have to have the desire to rightly divide the word of truth and make sure who we listen to are doing the same.

If we are rightly and skilfully teaching and handling the Word of God, then, we need not be ashamed. We may not know all the answers or know how to communicate as clearly as we like, but if we are doing our best to study and understand and apply the Bible, we can live unashamed, worthy of God’s approval.

Correctly handling the Bible will involve much study, and much prayer. It involves bringing an open mind, an open heart and a teachable spirit.

Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy understood the importance of reminding his hearers of the sacrifice of Christ, the need for serving Him and the need to work diligently to be approved workmen before God.

In order for us to not be ashamed, we need to be diligent in our study, not just in our reading of the Word, but in our everyday lives. Being diligent, endeavouring to glorify God in all we do and say. Living out what we believe and showing the world a Godly testimony. Making sure we are worthy of God’s approval by rightly dividing the Word of truth.

Reading the Word of God is not enough!

We need to be diligent and strive to look into the Word of God, digging deeper into the words we read, longing to understand their meanings, desiring a closer relationship with the Lord, wanting to know him better in order that we will know how to live our own lives.

We need to ask God to:

Psalm 119:18 KJV - Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

We have to have a teachable heart and make time to spend in his Word.

Reading is easy. Study is hard work. It requires time and patience. But God promises to reward those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We need to stop being Bible illiterate and become students of the Word of God. Don’t be satisfied with a surface Christianity that is content to live on a diet of milk forever.

We need to move from milk to meat. Look for those hard passages and do some study of your own. Make time for it. And God will show up.

 

Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV - But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Proverbs 8:17 KJV - I love them that love me; and those that seek me early (diligently) shall find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.