Recently, I have been learning about the importance of studying the Bible, memorizing scripture, and using God's word effectively. We have heard this in this most recent sermon series at church and have read about this in the Whisper book by Mark Batterson. As Ruth wrote in her prayer yesterday: we need to remember the importance of not only reading the Word, but imprinting it on our minds, and using it as fuel to fight the enemy.
2 Timothy 2:15 says: "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I am reading through the book Whisper with some friends, and we recently spent time exploring what rightly dividing God's word meant. We came to the conclusion that it means to use God's word accurately in the context that it was intended, interpreting it accurately as truth. This means not picking and choosing pieces of scripture and misinterpreting them. Rightly dividing scripture is our best offense and our best defense.
In today's reading, we see Jesus "rightly dividing" God's word. When faced with trials and temptations, he responds with scripture that defeats his enemy. When starving after eating nothing for 40 days, he was asked to turn a stone to bread, but responded: "Man does not live on bread alone" (Deuteronomy 8:3). When offered authority over all the kingdoms of the world if he bows down to the devil, he says "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only" (Deuteronomy 6:13). Finally, the devil wrongly divides scripture by quoting a passage that shows God's protection of his people as fuel to dare Jesus to jump from the highest point of the temple. Jesus quotes scripture yet again (Deuteronomy 6:16): "do not put the Lord your God to the test".
Jesus knew scripture, and in his time of testing he was able to call to mind those verses that defended him and kept him on the right path.
God, help us to study scripture so that we may better know you, our need of a savior, your plans for us, your love for us, and your protection of us. Give us the strength to face our battles knowing that you are beside us. Thank you for the history, mercy, wisdom, healing, love, hope and purpose that your Word provides. May we never take that for granted and always seek to enrich our lives with the power of your Word.
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