Study Takes Diligence

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

        Following God in a way that is upright and pure takes much diligence and commitment. Paul is urging Timothy that God’s representatives must be disciplined and be willing to put in time and commitment to the study of the word. We need to commit to daily reading and study in order to find out what is the truth of the gospel so that we can pass it on to others and thus be accurate representatives of Christ.

        The word that Paul used for “approved” is the same word that was used for the process that the money-changers used who knew the true from the counterfeit tender. There were more than eighty laws for which coins where approved and considered legitimate. The money-changers had to study diligently to know what the laws were and how to recognize the counterfeit coins. Many of the money handlers of lesser integrity knew the counterfeit coins, but they would circulate the counterfeit tender anyway. But, the true men of God would only put the true money into circulation. By this they were not dishonestly treating others and society in general by giving the fake in place of the real.

        The same is true with the word of God. If we are going to share the word with others and walk in integrity and truth, we will have to stay in the word daily. We need to diligently study it in order to find the real gems of the fruitful word of God. As we pass on the pure and vibrant word to others, God will truly approve of this and be delighted in our path. But this will take time, diligent, study and commitment to find what God is actually saying in His word.

        When we find the truth of the word of God, we can confidently share the word, without shame. This is because the rightly divided word of truth will encourage and stimulate our life so that we want nothing other than to share it and get some more for ourselves and others. Seek the Lord this day as to how He wants to use you. Commit to His desires for your life and scour the scriptures daily for what He is saying to you. Then share it.

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer request.

Daniel A. Smith