“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 was on a mission. My son wanted a new cabinet top and I, being the one with the truck, volunteered to pick it up. These days, anyone can log onto a smartphone and look up what’s in stock at the local lumber yard. He was in Tampa, but looked up the store closest to me and saw they had 3 of what he wanted in stock. So I hopped in my truck and headed north!
When I got to the store I asked the department head where I might find the desired counter-top. Taking me to the location, I discovered that there were not 3… but 2. And both of those had been damaged in shipping. I then asked if there were any at the southern store. Looking up on his phone, he stated, “they have 7 there.” So I hopped in my truck and headed south!
When I got there, I had to ask the department head where they were, because the store layout was different. When he pointed to the back of the store, I walked back to find that, instead of 7, there were only 2. And BOTH of those had been damaged in transit. Picking the one that would display the least likelihood of offense, I unhappily loaded it into my truck.
The one thing I learned through this process, is that what the store’s app said they had, and what they ACTUALLY had, were 2 different things. AND that even though they might have them, there was no guarantee of their condition. I finally settled for a slightly damaged one, because I was not going to drive 100 miles to hopefully find another one in perfect condition.
One of the first verses in the Bible that I ever learned at my Father’s guidance was today’s verse. I deliberately picked the King James version, not because it’s the one I learned, but because it’s the one I think most closely resembles the original intent of the Author. It starts with a command! “YOU… STUDY!” The NIV version says ‘do your best!” Errr? Unacceptable!
Everyone who knows the Bible, even a little, understands the problem that comes from private interpretation! It is possible to make the Bible say anything anyone wants it to. But because Bible Study REQUIRES intense, intentional hard work WITH the Author, the work I put in can’t be just the best I can do. Study brings out the best of who He is.. into who I am to be!
So before I run off telling everyone what I THINK the Bible is trying to say, I am reminded, as I see BOTH my dad’s in my mind’s eye, to STUDY IT CORRECTLY! Truth requires the stamp of it’s Author! Are YOU studying to SHOW yourself approved by Him???
