Education & Obedience

I encounter many people today saying, "I just don't understand the Bible." Sadly, the fact is that many of those are Christians. It seems that I hear that comment more and more often. I can understand why those outside of Christ are unable to comprehend biblical concepts, but why are Christians struggling so?

I teach a couple of classes here at the church. Often I get the comment that I have a Bible College education and that you need to be a trained minister to understand this stuff. That's not the truth! I've met several trained ministers in my time who didn't really understand the word of God. They knew the facts, but there was no excitement for the Lord and His Word.

I think there is a link between education (knowledge of the Word) and obedience (doing what it says). Many today are professing Christians but not practicing Christians. When we act on what we read in the Bible we see it some to life and we begin to hear and understand the voice of truth better. If we don't obey what God has already revealed to us, then why would He give us deeper truths to deal with? "The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him" (Psalm 25:14). Those who fear Him and obey His commandments are promised "a good understanding" (Psalm 111:10).

Living a fleshly & sinful lifestyle of disobedience to God clouds our judgement, diminishes our listening, and fogs our thinking. Although we have the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), our sin keeps us from tapping into the richness of the truth and wisdom that God wants us to find in His Word.

Do you want to know the fullness of the Word of God? Then read it and study it. Meditate on it day and night. (Joshua 1:8 "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.") But don't stop there. Do what it says. Obey and submit to God's plans and ideas for the life that He created. As you read, look for His instructions. Then rely on the Holy Spirit to lead you down that path of obedience. When you educate and obey, He'll reveal even deeper truths to you and your understanding will grow. And an exciting thing that will happen very soon...your time in the Word will become a delight instead of a duty.