Plenty More To Learn

After inviting a man to Bible study once, I remember him saying to me, "I was confirmed when I was 14. What more do I need to learn?" I was surprised by both his ignorance and pride. Surely he didn't honestly believe he had learned all there was to learn about Scripture by the time he was 14? I've been reading it over and over again, and I'm 50 and certainly have plenty more to learn.

Two week ago, a group of nine people were shot and killed by a stranger who attended their Bible study in Charleston, S.C. A week later, 100 people showed up to that Bible study. Many were family members of the deceased. How wonderful that 100 people came to the same room to hear what the Word of God had to say to them, especially amidst such tragic, senseless loss. Looking for answers, looking for clarity, looking for hope, looking for support? Whatever the reason, the Bible study was the place they chose to find it. Praying 100 or more come tonight to their church study, and that it continues to grow and grow as they likewise do the same in the Word.

You will never know all there is to know about the Word of God. Just when you think you've got a particular verse or book figured out, God will open your eyes to new information to profoundly influence your spiritual life. No idea how many times I've read 1 Peter, but this verse (4:14) jumped out at me Sunday in worship: "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." It's timing was perfect and blessed me deeply. The Bible is called the Living Word for a reason.

We want to be sure you sweet ones continually seek out God's Word, reading, studying, listening. There is so much for you to grasp, absorb, memorize and apply. In this world of changing truths, the Truth of Scripture is paramount. We need our Father's guidance to know what Truth is. So dig in every single day. Study together. Study apart. Study with a group. Study morning, noon and evening. Don't ever stop studying. We promise you, there is so much more for you to learn.

Discussion: Are you currently doing - or are involved in - a Bible study? What book or section of the Bible would you like to learn more about? What is the best Bible study you have ever done?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we never want to stop learning more and more about You. Father, instill in us a desire to seek your Word every single day. Surprise us, Father, with Your Holy Spirit and teach us new each time we pick up our Bibles. In Christ, the Word made flesh, Amen.

Living Water

Last summer when we had gone through a dry period, I was telling my friend, Martina, that even though I was watering every day, it seemed like my plants were just not doing well.

I said to her, "It's almost as if they just need to have..."

"God's water," Martina interrupted.

That is exactly what I was thinking. You may laugh at this but I was honestly thinking they needed rain from the heavens instead of my spicket. They needed God's nutrients instead of whatever was coming from the water treatment plant. Sure enough, as soon as we got some rain, every plant perked up.

It reminded me of how we are as Christians. We may be doing all the good we can, but if we are not worshiping, praying and digging into God's Word regularly and asking the Holy Spirit to do a work in and through us, are we being the perky Christians we're supposed to be. Is it possible we have not refreshed ourselves with the Living Water (John 4:10)?

My dear ones, you will be stretched thin in the years to come (if you aren't already). You will be hard pressed to find time to worship, pray, read the Bible and fellowship with other Christians. It is the evil one's goal to find ways to keep you from the Lord. No matter what you have going on in your lives, we pray you will always find time for Him. My friend, Debbie said to me yesterday, "This is the reason I come to Reunion Group [our accountability group]: to keep my focus on Him." It's our weekly reminder that God is in control, we belong to Him and the victory is His. Without those reminders, we tend to be like the droopy flowers and plants in my yard.

So go to Him every day, several times a day. Remember that you are to glorify Him, love God's children and teach them to glorify Him. And let everything else you do in this life open doors to fulfill those three things. If you think this life is about anything else - for example, about being happy, success, wealth or adventure - you are sorely mistaken. So don't waste you time pursuing things of this earth. Pursue your Father and be enriched by Him. Drink deeply of His Living Water and just watch how you thrive!

Discussion: Do you take time every single day to worship, praise, pray and read the Word? Could you use a bit of Living Water? What are your dreams and goals? Is God part of those dreams? What can you do to focus on God?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for providing us with the Living Water in Christ Jesus and Your Word. May we drink of it often. Lord, we pray our eyes are fixed on You and that You bless our efforts to bring You glory. In Christ Jesus, Amen.