The Discipline of Study

The Discipline of Study

Our theme for the January weekend Freedom Fighters comes from 1 Timothy
4:7 (NASB): ". . . discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness . .
. ." The New King James Version translates the verse like this: "and exercise yourself toward godliness." That translation seems to fit with the discipline I want us to consider today.

Remember that four of the disciplines we'll review fall into the category of "abstinence" disciplines. The other four are disciplines of "engagement." Let's think today about one of the engagement
disciplines: study. Both the Old and New Testaments give us ample instruction about the importance of learning the Word of God and applying it our lives.

The discipline of study sets us on a path of learning Scripture. It will almost certainly involve memorizing Scripture, investing time in reading and studying God's Word and exposing ourselves to good Bible teaching. The goal of the discipline isn't "just" the acquiring of knowledge. Rather, the goal is the transformation of our hearts and minds. Disciplining ourselves to the study of God's Word is choosing to do the hard work of "exercising ourselves toward godliness."

The Psalmist said, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Engaging in regular study of God's Word prepares us for a life of righteousness; it will protect us from temptation when we know it and apply it to our lives. On the contrary, without this discipline of study, we're fair game for anything the enemy of our souls wants to throw our way.

Take some time to read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. God made it very clear through Moses that this discipline of study must address every area of our lives. If you follow on in Deuteronomy 6, you'll see why God
thought it so important. It was His Word that God knew would protect
the children of Israel from disobedience when they moved into the Promised Land. All the people currently living in the land were pagan idol worshipers. Only through the consistent application of God's Word to their lives would His people avoid the sins of their enemies.

Remember Dallas Willard's definition of the spiritual disciplines: "any activity within our power that we engage in to enable us to do what we
cannot do by direct effort." Living a godly life in an ungodly world
qualifies as one of those things we cannot do by direct effort. We can engage in the discipline of study as an "exercise for godliness." We have incredible tools available to us for studying God's Word. Let's choose to discipline ourselves to use them. (Pastor John Strain, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River, is writer for our weekend Freedom
Fighters)

Great Quote: Human fellowship can go to great lengths, but not all the way. Fellowship with God can go to all lengths. Oswald Chambers