Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
What is our attitude toward Bible study? Do we love it? Is it interesting, encouraging, and a major priority to us, or an obligation and a chore? If scripture study is nothing to us but an obligation or a chore, we ought not be so bold as to say that we love God or take Him seriously. (Gary Henry, Diligently Seeking God). Bible study should be something we don t just do to check off our list, but something we want to do something we enjoy doing because it brings us closer to God. Furthermore, we should have an open mindset toward what the Bible says.
John 8:43-44 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
Jesus isn t saying that they didn t have the ability to understand His speech, but that they didn t have the desire to understand it. They weren t disposed to accept it because they didn t like it. They could understand, but they didn t want to because of the personal ramifications of understanding it. If they accepted what He said as the clear truth it was, then they would have to do it and they didn t want to do it! Such is the attitude of too many today. For us, however, we should study to understand what God wants from us whatever that ends up being! We should diligently search the scriptures to find the truth. As Martin Luther said, I study the Bible as I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest might fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf. We too should be so thorough in seeking the truth when we study. Instead of studying to justify what we re doing, we should study to find out what we should do, and do it!
James 1:21-22 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The hard part of Bible study is usually not figuring out what God wants, but being willing to do it. Many deceive themselves into thinking they are right with God by hearing His Word, but they fail to implement it into their lives. Without this practical doing of the Word, all of our Bible study if for naught. If we love God, however, we will happily study God s Word to find the truth, even if it requires a personal change in our attitude or actions, and then apply that truth to our life. Only then is our Bible study profitable to us and pleasing to God.