Friday, July 17, 2009

Handle With Care

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

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV) 2 Timothy 2:15

Well, ever since this post, I've been very bothered. The Lord keeps prompting me to say something regarding this quote from it: "I cannot say that I completely understand His meaning yet, but isn't exciting to ponder it?"

Here's the problem: I love God's Word so much, and I am zealous that others become hungry for the truth found in the Bible. Because as people saturate themselves with scripture, they draw closer to Jesus (or maybe meet Him for the first time). We become more like Him as we take in His powerful Word by reading the Bible.

Okay, that's not the problem, but this is: I don't ever want to wrongly handle God's Word, or to speculate "out loud" on the meaning of passages I don't yet fully understand. I either want to just let the God speak for Himself through His Word (straight scripture), or be careful to expound only on things that He's clearly taught me.


So, I am sorry for speculating. God, give me grace to understand You better and better through your wonderful Word, then give me further grace to share with others only as Your Spirit leads.

The scripture below has long been a prayer of mine for myself and for others. This passage is so rich. Take it in! Mull it over! Then let us ask Him earnestly and in faith for this:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms
. Ephesians 1: 17-20 (emphasis mine)

And lastly, I used the 2 Timothy scripture in two versions up at the top, because I first learned this verse as a child in the KJV, then later read it in the NIV, and found both versions to be useful and enlightening.

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Photos
1- Mom's petunias (mine were fried long ago in the heat!)
2-BB sings worship songs with the children at Gramma's house

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad to see you are feeling well enough to write again. I often ponder over the things of God. Sometimes it takes lots of pondering for me to really get it.

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  2. ps....sometimes I ponder and never get it. : )

    ReplyDelete