“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
“I’m so tired of this,” Katie said to me yesterday. It’s been almost 3 weeks since the eye doctor said to stop wearing her hard contact lenses and use glasses… “until you see a specialist.” She’s got a cyst in the corner of her eye that requires her to wear only glasses for now. For most of her life, her day started with popping in her contact lenses. Now… seeing means looking for her glasses!
The other day I picked up her prescription sunglasses. I was in a hurry and saw the black frames. Thinking they were mine, I put them on and WHOAH!!!!! EVERYTHING was a blurrrr! I’d say she’s blind as a bat without glasses, but even bats can see better! To make matters more difficult, she has 1 lens for seeing things far away… and 1 lens for things close! She’s a visionary nightmare!
Years ago she told me of her first experience with glasses at 10 years old. Whether it was from running into things, or not seeing the nose in front of her face, her mom took her to the eye doctor. When she got the ‘cat eye’ shaped glasses, it was like her whole world changed… “I saw LEAVES,” she said. Adolescence brought braces too. Even now, we all laugh at her pictures from 8th grade!
Katie is beautiful and, as I said to a lady the other day, “she’s even MORE beautiful on the INSIDE.” There’s a reason for that. Every morning she puts on her glasses and focuses on God’s Word, making studying more of a ‘Beauty Treatment’ than a regimen. ‘Through the eyes, to the heart and out the Life,’ is God’s way. And she has mastered it. Her diligence proves today’s verse works!
I learned 2 Timothy 2:15 as a kid when my dad made it a point… “God’s Word is LIFE! “ Memorizing it in the King James, I have a problem hearing it from any other version. The Greek word means ‘to hasten’ or ‘be diligent.’ Some even interpret it, ‘do your best!’ But personally, I don’t prefer those versions. To me, attitude verbs don’t make it as clear as ‘STUDY!’ MANY folks need to hear that!
“What book in the Bible are you reading? What devotional(s) do you subscribe to? Read any good Christian Books lately? How often do you spend time with Jesus and His Word?” And for how long?” These are questions I ask because of my VOCATION. My Biblical job description says that if I DON’T ask them, I get DOUBLE judgment! So I ask… even to the point of being gruff!! Too bad!
Are YOU studying, learning and applying God’s Word daily? How clearly do YOU see God’s hand in your life because you do? What is He trying to teach you? Are you co-operating with Him? Do you share His Word and lessons with those in your world? These are Important questions because ‘God’s Word is LIFE and DILIGENTLY STUDYING is His COMMAND! You’ve just been told! Wink wink!
