Spiritual Discipline: Bible Study

Reading, studying, memorization, and meditation upon Scripture…

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children…You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied....” Deuteronomy 11:18-21

“Jesus answered, “It is written…Jesus answered him, “It is also written…” Matt 4:4&7

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”              2 Tim 3:16&17

God calls His children to know His Word. Jesus Himself quoted the scriptures! We are to study, meditate upon, and apply the Word of God to our lives. It is beneficial to us for teaching, behavioral critique, correcting, and training in righteousness. Through God’s Word, we can be equipped to do all that He has planned for us to do. We are to allow the Word of God to rest and rule in our hearts so that we are led by His Word and are spiritually equipped (as Christ was) to fight temptation. But as Dallas Willard points out, the transformation that happens as we engage the practices may not even be seen outwardly. There is a formation of the spirit, the heart, and the mind that, at times, may not be apparent to anyone but our Father. But He knows and sees and is delighted as we grow in resemblance to His Son.

As we read God’s Word, we become familiar with who He is and how He is. As we become familiar with Him we become better at recognizing His voice in our world. However, when we are attempting to grow in relationship with someone, we must be in conversation with them, right? The studying of God’s Word is of the utmost importance because it is the primary way in which God speaks to us. But reading of the Word constitutes only half of a conversation with God. The other half is prayer. Prayer is the primary way in which we speak to God. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at that.