January 1999 Issue

Resolutions...

Study the Bible More this Year

by Drew Hall

In any area of life in which we want to succeed, we must have the "want to" to reach the goal we have set for ourselves. In our lives as Christians - as pilgrims in a foreign country journeying home - the same is true. A Christian must have "a readiness to will" (2 Corinthians 8:11), and a "willing mind" (2 Corinthians 8:12) before he can "perform the doing" (2 Corinthians 8:11) of the thing to be done. Before we can study the Bible more in 1999 we must develop a desire to perform this noble task.

Surely no Christian would doubt the benefit of studying the Bible more. Jesus Himself said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39). The words of the Bible will give us an understanding of the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4). The Bible reveals to us how to be "born again" through the purification of our souls (1 Peter 1:22-23). The Bible can furnish us with the faith to stand in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

We must know more about Jesus and His plan for us. The only way to accomplish this is studying the Bible more. There is an old saying that "you are either moving forward or moving backwards - you can't just stand still" when reaching for a goal. We cannot be content with the same, or less, studying this year as last year. We must "...grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18). The only way to grow spiritually is to "desire the sincere milk of the word" (2 Peter 2:2). This desire springs from our first having a "willing mind".

Having developed a "readiness of mind" we can then "perform the doing" of greater Bible study in 1999. In 1 Timothy 4:13-16 GOD gives us some pretty good tips on how to study the Bible more. We should "give attendance to reading ... to doctrine", "meditate upon" the things we read, "give (ourselves) wholly to them", and "take heed unto (ourselves), and unto the doctrine; continue in them". By doing these things we will study the Bible more this year than last and, more importantly, we will "save (ourselves), and them that hear (us)".

What are some of the practical things we can do to help us study the Bible more? Here is a short list with some suggestions: pick a topic to study and learn more about each month; while doing your daily Bible reading, follow one of the cross references and see where it leads; ask a younger (or older) Christian to meet and study with you a few minutes before one of the church's worship periods; open your home to other Christians for a home Bible study. As Jehovah said in the long ago "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18), and "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15). Let us study more, that we may know more, that we may be more like our Savior.

[Editor's Note: Thanks to Drew Hall for the article! He can be reached at: 198 Airport
Road, Lacey's Spring, AL (205) 883-7416, d112hall@aol.com ]

Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com