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

I didn’t really understand the question. I had copied some files for a church member onto their own flash drive and handed it back. The following week she brought the flash drive back to me, along with her MP3 player, saying she couldn’t get it to work. I took it home and a few days later handed everything back to her with a, “here ya go!” Her baffling question to me was, “how did you DO that?”

Last night at Bible Study, we were covering the technical aspects and current applications of ‘The Feasts’ in the Old Testament. Afterward, someone came with a question and then added, “how do you KNOW all this stuff?” Again, I didn’t understand the question enough to give an answer.

Years ago, before the IBM PC, I went into computer sales and I was required to learn 3 different operating systems AND programs for 3 different computers. Learning was long, hard and grueling. Today, with Windows, it is a lot easier process…but it CAN get technical if someone doesn’t know HOW to copy or transfer a files. To learn takes time, study and perseverance. It is the same for learning the Word of God.

I was blessed to have a pastor for a father. One who loved to learn the Bible and its applications. From the age of 5 he taught and drilled it into me. When I got older, I learned how to find answers to my own deep questions because of the training I had previous. It’s not that I am smarter, I just may have more time and experience at it. But the MAIN motivator that brought me along was ‘desire!’

Back in the day, I HAD to find a good job because I had a wife, 2 little kids and a mortgage. My DESIRE to provide pressed me forward to learn hard stuff that I wouldn’t normally need, or care, to learn. The difficulties I had faced in life led me to the Word of God because I had learned that the answers are IN THERE… if I would just take the time and desire to FIND THEM.

I discovered that the real answer to the flash drive question would require me teaching a class on “How to use Windows.’ At both her and my stage of life, neither of us really desires that. I simply said, “when you need something copied, I’ll just do it for you.” The answer to the Bible question is not as easy.

I like the King James Version of this verse better. It says “YOU (implied) STUDY!” Most of the other versions say, “Do your best!” Having discovered that if ‘MY DESIRE’ to learn something is not there, ‘MY BEST’ will be tiny. What it takes to get close to God is simply the ‘WANT’ to! After that, it is simply showing up every day with desire, and putting your face in His Book and His Church! The BEST is just ahead! I guess the best answer to “how do you know this stuff,” can be answered with another question. “How badly do you REALLY WANT to know?