When we want to learn a new skill, we take care to learn everything we can about that subject.

An artists will try different mediums and techniques to enhance their art. A musicians will practice their music piece by piece, note by note, in order to memorize and perfect the song they are learning. A chef will experiment and enhance a recipe to perfection. Engineers practice advanced math in order to develop and design our changing world.

We give our time, our energy and our minds to these things.

King David wanted to know God. He knew in order to know God, he would need to know God’s Word, because he knew that Scripture would keep him from sinning against God. He even wrote:

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (Psalm 119:15 ESV)

This is a valuable lesson for us to learn as well: if we want to know God, to know Jesus, then we need to know God’s Word.

His Word will teach us His ways.

In our society though there are many alternatives to the Word of God, and many opinions on how to live a good life.  One merely has to google, and pages of resources will be presented to you.  The latest technology will even assimilate sources for you and present you with a little article and possible questions you may want to ask after that.  The world is quick to stream us information.

But where is the best information about God and His way?

Paul warns Timothy: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim 4:7-8)

We are to be careful where we get our information.  The bible is the primary source of information about God and His ways.  If we want to know about God, like David above, we need to know God’s Word and use that as the manual to train ourselves in godliness.

Just as we give our minds, time and energy to the study of art or math, or we practice an instrument or recipe in order to do it well, we must also give our minds, energy and time to knowing God’s Word. We should meditate on Scripture and fix our eyes on what Jesus has taught us. When we do this, we store up His wonderful Word in our hearts and it keeps us from sinning against Him.

We can know exactly what God wants and desires for us by reading Scripture.

  • His Word gives us boundaries, guidance, and direction.
  • His Word shows His purposes and reveals His will to us.
  • His Word reveals to us who He is, His character and who we are,
  • and we get to respond with joy and obedience.

What is your source of information on how to live a godly life?  Are you following the opinions of others, listening to tales of others before you read your bible? Are these sources training you in godliness?

We have limited time, energy and space in our minds, how are you going to use that for your training in godliness?  In what ways will you store up God’s Word in your heart?

In 2 Timothy 2:15-18 Paul again encourages Timothy.

“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.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered aways from the truth.”

To avoid wandering away from truth, we need to learn how to correctly handle the word of truth.

Thank you, Lord for your Word that reveals truth, to us your children.  Thank you that we may know You, Your heart, and Your ways through scripture.  Lord, I have limited time, help me not to waste it scrolling and reading information that is not actually a good source of information for godliness.  Instead, help me to spend that time in my bible, training myself in a knowledge of your Word, so that it may guide me on a path of life that glorifies Your Name. Help me Lord to create space in my mind for Your Words, so that it may instruct my heart as I meditate on it.  Help me to train myself in godliness so that I can present myself to you as an approved workman.