Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Audio Link: https://buff.ly/2u8HQjr

This is devotional thought number 60 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: To Know Him

Here’s the final question for consideration on this subject: What influence will God’s Word have on me?

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, And drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little:” (Isaiah 28:9–10).

Have you ever had difficulty understanding the Bible? Do you want to know what the Lord wants from you, but it seems that the scriptures are full of hidden meanings, and the understanding of them eludes you? Think of this. If the Lord has a message for you, would it be fair of Him to hide it from your eyes? Certainly not;God’s messages are for our learning and He has given us the keys that we need in order to be aligned with His will.

One of the keys that God has given for our understanding of the Bible has to do with submission. While He was here, Jesus taught in the temple. Many of the Jews were astonished because He knew so much, yet He was not trained in their schools. “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 17:16-17). If we are willing to do whatever the Lord brings to our consciousness, we are well on our way to understanding the Bible.

Another key to understanding the scriptures is having the Holy Ghost teach us. If we do not have His Spirit by our side every step of the way, we cannot be truly willing to do His will, nor will we ever understand the intent of His words. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit brings the truth for our need to our understanding, and the blessing of His holiness, which converts willing hearts to the truth. If we have the Holy Spirit, we will know God’s will. God is more willing to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask, than parents are willing to give good gifts to their children. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13).

The last key we will discuss is using the Bible as its own interpreter. Many people look outside of the Bible for some commentary on what the Lord must have meant by this or that. Commentaries are useful as far as they go; however, the best way to understand a text is to search the scriptures for related themes. As we do this, the Lord brings a depth of truth to our awareness that no commentary can. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isaiah 28:9-10). When we study the Bible looking for other texts relating to the one we began with, and meditate on how they may all relate to our salvation, we are on the right path to understanding the scriptures. There are a number of elements, not covered here; however, you have been given a good foundation for Bible study.

What influence will God’s Word have on me? If we are led by the Spirit through prayer and are willing to do what the Lord reveals using the Bible to interpret itself, God will fashion our characters after that of Jesus Christ.—L. David...