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. 2 Timothy 2: 15, NIV.
Holy Father, today we come to You asking You to teach us how we are to study Your Word; that we might use it effectively, for Your glory. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
The Bible, the Word of God, is still the number one, best selling book, in the world! Perhaps not everyone who purchase a Bible, does it with the intention of studying it, as the following story illustrates. A door-to-door salesman stopped at a certain home in the neighborhood. He was selling books, among them, the Bible. He had sold several Bibles that morning. After lunch he decided, that since he had done so well selling Bibles, he would begin by presenting the Bible first, and then the other books. He knocked at the door, and a man opened. After his regular greeting, he asked him if he owned a Bible. The man, who up to this moment had been very polite, seemed somewhat offended by the question; “Why, do you consider me a heathen? Having said that, he excused himself, and turned away to get his Bible off of the shelf. When he returned, he began dusting it off (it was completely covered with dust). Then he opened it and exclaimed with surprise, and delight, Well, what do you know! Here is my pair of eyeglasses that I have been searching for for the past five years!
Now, we could not really say that he made very good use of his Bible, could we? Not having used it in five years, is not what I would exactly describe as owning a Bible! Our text for today, is taken from a letter written to young Timothy, the apostle Paul’s “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1: 1, NIV); encouraging him, to handle the Word of truth “correctly!” We know that “the word of truth” is none other than the Word of God. Notice that Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14: 6, emphasis provided). The Bible is the written word of God, that informs us about the Living Word of God! Our verse for today implies, that if “the word of truth,” is handled correctly, we will have no need to be ashamed! The apostle also exhorts young Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved” (“study“ in the KJV; emphasis provided).
But what does “correctly handling the word of truth” look like? Remember after Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river, when He was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4: 1)? When the Adversary came to tempt Jesus, knowing that Jesus could not be easily tempted, he used something that would get Jesus’ attention, and probably, confuse Him. He misused Scripture. This was nothing new. He makes it his duty to misquote Jesus, constantly. He did it in the Garden of Eden, “Has God indeed said, ‘you shall not eat of every tree in the garden’ ” (Genesis 3: 1)? God had said just the opposite, “of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but…” Are you beginning to see how important it is for us to “study,” to be “diligent,” to “do [our] best, so that we may, “correctly [handle] the word of truth?” There is a tempter out there!
Jesus used Scripture to prove that we do not have to give in to our desires: Human beings do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4: 4).
He used it to guard against presumption, by rebuking the tempter: You will not tempt God (6)!
And He used it to establish His identity, as the only One worthy of worship: God is the only One who is to receive worship and service (10).
When the time comes, will you be able to handle the word of truth “correctly?” May God help us to study, in order to be ready!