Bible Study

            The Bible is a difficult book to read. It is the Truth and the written word of God, and because of this, we ought to live by what it says.

            I mentioned a long while ago that I was doing an exegetical study of the Bible. I wanted to do this for two reasons. 1. To learn the character of God and get to know Him better. 2. So that I can know how He wants me to live.

            The reason I say the Bible is hard book to read is because the more I read it, the more I realize how unglorifying my life is. Many aspects of my life are completely opposite to those presented in Scripture, and that saddens me. I want my life to glorify and please God.

            Over the last few years, I’ve learned that I am capable of nothing on my own. I’m not strong enough to be good, strong enough to follow. But that’s why God gives us the Holy Spirit. He is more than willing to fill us with His strength, if only we ask with a genuine and believing heart.

            So here we are; equipped with the Holy Spirit and a will to change. What now? Well, we read the Bible and do what it says. Sounds easy, right?

            Wrong.

            The Holy Spirit is strong, but our flesh is strong too. A lot of the time, we want (or think we want) what our flesh offers. It sounds more appealing than what God offers. But the choice to follow our flesh always leads to problems. Following God and His commandments is often the harder way, but it’s always the most rewarding.

            God says multiple times that if we truly love Him, then we will obey his commandments. Obviously, He knows that we will make mistakes. But He wants us to strive to follow Him and obey His word.

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at this natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

~James 1:21-25

            Again – if we are true believers, then we will be doers of the word. If we only hear the word and continue to live in sin, then we aren’t real Christians.

            Let that sink in for a minute. If you know what you are supposed to do and aren’t trying to do it, you aren’t a true follower of Christ.

            I don’t know about you, but that hits me pretty hard.

            In Hebrews 10:26, it says “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”. And in Romans 6, Paul says, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!” God’s grace is infinite, but that doesn’t mean we can take advantage of it.

            I don’t want to scare or discourage you – I just want you to be aware. We need to take God at His word. The reward will be worth it.

 

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            I hope that made sense. My brain has not been working lately. :P