With school coming to a close,
many parents and children are looking forward to a break from the books
- a break from reading; a break from testing; a break from studying. Should
the Christian ever look for such a break from God's Book, the Holy Bible?
Should we ever take a vacation and put an end to studying the scriptures?
Proverbs 15:28a (KJV)
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer...
Who does the Bible say studies? The righteous study from their heart, with a willing attitude. What do they study? The Word of God! Why do they study? To learn and to be ready to give an answer, just like students need to be ready to give answers to what they have studied in their schooling. When should they study? Every day! No summer vacation... Incidentally, what were your study habits like when you were in school, dear lady? What type of student were you? One that was easily distracted? Did you only study halfheartedly? What are your study habits like now? Perhaps to this day you are still preoccupied with other matters and struggle to keep your mind on your work…
2 Tim. 2:15 (KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Spiritually speaking, as believers, you and I are in “school” and will be until the day we leave this earth. Have you set any goals for being ready to give scriptural answers to the questions either unsaved or unlearned folk might have? You better! Sometimes we had to memorize our answers in school; remember those days? Are we putting this method to use when it comes to the Bible? If God's Word tells us to be ready to give an answer, then that means someone with an inquiry will eventually come our way… What are you going to say then, dear lady? Do you recall the times your teachers would give you a "pop-quiz" – those questions you didn't have a clue were coming? For me, it usually resulted in a moment of panic; I was often weak in unexpected times of testing. Likewise, we mustn’t be found uneducated when it comes to sharing the things of God. Let's not fail any "pop-quiz"! Many unforeseen opportunities are going to come and the Lord has informed us ahead of time to be prepared...
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear.
Be ready always… Ladies, that means ALL year long! Don't ever take a vacation from Bible study or church attendance! Vacationers are typically people who look forward to vacation time as a means of escape from responsibility. Spiritually speaking, is that what you want for yourself? When we didn't faithfully study in school in order to answer our tests correctly, we suffered loss, didn't we? We might have had to take a zero, even failed a subject, or caused ourselves extra work and extra time having to go back and review things over again. Maybe some of you were even held back a grade. So too, apart from daily study of the scriptures, we can cause the kingdom of God to suffer loss if we are not knowledgeable with our answers. We might have to take a zero, and lose a soul to hell for not being properly prepared! Yes, we can thwart our own advancement and even suffer the loss of our own rewards by slacking in our studies. Ladies, let's not be lazy about our spiritual homework, amen? Let's faithfully stay in God's Book all year long so that we are ready when our Master calls upon us! Study for a good report…
Matthew 25:21 (KJV)
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
I don't know about you, but I want a passing grade! I want to graduate into the joy of the Lord! I want an A+ when the books are opened... What is recorded under your name in the Lambs Book of Life? Are you saved?? Are you serving?? Are you sold-out?? Or are you a flunkie? Don't ever be content with passing by the skin of your teeth; get busy for God and study, study, study so you can answer, answer, answer!
Psalm 45:1 (KJV)
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have
made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
In closing, here is a hymn I thought reflected the right perspective toward a godly education:
A STUDENT'S PRAYER
God the all-wise, and Creator of the human intellect,
Guide our search for truth and knowledge, all our thoughts and ways direct.
Help us build the towers of learning that would make us wise, astute,
On the rock of Holy Scripture: truth revealed and absolute.
O how vast the shores of learning - there are still uncharted seas,
And they call to bold adventure those who turn from sloth and ease.
But we need Thy hand to guide us in the studies we pursue,
And the presence of Thy Spirit to illumine all we do.
May the things we learn, so meager, never lift our hearts in pride
Till in foolish self-reliance we would wander from Thy side.
Let them only bind us closer, Lord to Thee, in whom we find,
Very fountainhead of wisdom, light and life of all mankind.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
