A True Workman

~~This is a post from 4 years ago… just as God’s Word never changes, I believe this post is just as relevant today as ever.~~

God’s Word is of the utmost importance in the growth of a  Christian’s life, it’s the “food” for our newly created inward man.  So, do we as Christians  SEARCH, STUDY, DILIGENTLY SEEK AND HONOR THE WORD OF OUR GOD as He desires us to?

My immediate answer is NO!!  Now I’m not saying each and every believer is remiss in their time with the Lord in His Word, but in this chaotic, fast paced world we live in, it seems my assessment is close to reality.

Here are some of the reasons I’ve heard people use.  “I am too busy I just don’t have time”,  “it’s hard to understand the Bible, I’m not a preacher”, “I go to church every week and hear my pastor preach the Word that should be enough”,  “I read from my devotional booklet everyday”  and so on.

My response to all of the above excuses (notice I am calling them excuses here-not reasons) is simple.   First, every minute we live is given to us by God; you don’t have to be a preacher to understand God’s Word, just ask Him to guide you; hearing the Truth of the Word in your church weekly is very important–but it’s not enough and finally reading a devotional is good, but it’s not what the Lord God intended for our lives.  I know this because we are told in Deuteronomy 8:3  “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”  Jesus himself quoted this verse to Satan when He was tempted to turn stones into bread.

Paul wrote to Timothy in his second epistle chapter 2 verse 15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  In the Complete Jewish Bible it says “Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of His approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. “

There are three very important spiritual truths in this verse.

First, we need to study the Word of God, not just read.  Study  means to apply one’s mind purposefully to the acquisition of knowledge or understanding and to give careful thought to; contemplate.  Secondly, there is INTENT in Paul’s words here: “…to show thyself approved…”  Approved by man–no!  So that we are approved by God, our Father.  And finally, why this intent study?  Because not only are we His children;  we are His workman.  As His workman we must rightly divide and appropriately understand, apply and give the Gospel to all. John Wesley said “But they that give one part of the gospel to all (the promises and comforts to unawakened, hardened, scoffing men) have real need to be ashamed.”

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

2 Timothy 4:2  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  NIV

Romans 10:17  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  KJV

Hebrews 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is , and that He  rewards them that diligently seek him.”  KJV

So, my prayer is for all brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ to become true workman for the Lord God Almighty and our Savior Jesus Christ.  ♥ Streim