DILIGENCE IN STUDYING THE WORD
We have been told at one point or the other as Christians, that God has plans for us. That there’s so much He wants to do for us and expects of us. But how do we get to know this for ourselves? How do these things become real to us? The answer is, through a diligent study of the Bible – God’s Word.
A LOOK AT DILIGENCE; WHAT IS IT?
Now diligence is careful persistence in work or in interest. A diligent study of the Bible would mean studying it carefully and persistently, never straying, not getting distracted or stopping along the way. God must have known we would find this a little difficult, so in 2 Corinthians 8:7, He makes diligence a grace we can receive. “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in that grace also.”
POINTERS IN DILIGENT WORD STUDY
As we pray for that grace and abound in it, here are some pointers we can use in our diligent study of God’s Word.
#1. We must read the Word sequentially and not selectively.
There are a lot of people who in their private study, pray over their Bible, flip it open and read the first scripture they see. That’s selective reading and it doesn’t help in studying the Bible. Rather, we can take the Bible, a book, or some chapters at a time. Alternatively, we can read the Old Testament, then the New Testament. A man of God said that if you take the Bible four chapters at a time, it can be completed in a year. Try that!
#2. Read, then study the Bible.
It is important to read the Word extensively. It is even more important to study it. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. As you read, write down the understanding you receive and meditate on them. It’s important to understand that in studying, you want to show yourself approved by God, not men. Don’t pursue knowledge in the Word, pursue God.
#3. Have a Bible you’re comfortable with and a strong notebook for personal study.
If you’re not comfortable with King James’ ‘thee’ and ‘thou’, find a version or translation you’re totally comfortable with. Also, find a notebook in which you can write what you learned. Most pastors say that a lot of what they preach comes from their personal study notebooks. Get one of such books too and I can assure you that you’ll later be immensely blessed by what you have written.
#4. Use other versions to compare.
In studying the Bible, if you read a verse that is unclear to you, it is probably clearer in another Bible version. Get those versions and always compare. If the meaning is still unclear, ask for help or as a man of God said, “Let the Bible translate itself”. The Bible, though written by different authors, is so connected and interwoven that if one part isn’t clear, there are other verses that clarify that part.
#5. Memorize the Scriptures.
Memorization comes with speaking and repeating the word until it is stuck in memory. You must understand though, that it can be quite difficult to memorize verses, and even when you do, you might forget them. Yet, an easy way to overcome this is to memorize verses that “jump” at you, excite you, and relate to a condition you might be going through. Pick out these verses, ask yourself questions as you read them, and personalize them. Insert your name into them, if possible, and meditate on them. Before long, you’ll have them memorized. Start speaking to them every day. Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart from thine mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein all day and night.”
CONSISTENCY
Diligence in doing all the above listed will guarantee a steady growth in the Word and in the Lord, but that isn’t possible without consistency. Diligence goes hand-in-hand with consistency. We can only grow if we study every day, never wavering, never becoming slothful or lazy. Sometimes a message or prayer fills us with a zeal for the Word and we begin to study, but along the line, the effort we put in begins to reduce. That is slothfulness setting in and we must avoid that at all costs.
What do you do now?
We must keep studying, even if we don’t want to, or don’t feel like it. A pastor once said, “Keep doing the things of God even when you don’t want to until it becomes as natural to you as breathing”. Let’s diligently study the Bible until we’re completely guided by it in everything we do.
