In between studies... what difference does it make?

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Well, it fits the topic, so I'll pull the old faithful pic up again...

I have found myself pondering something this week, whilst I ruminate on the next study.  I think I have an idea of what it will be, likely another word study, but as I have pondered it I have found myself wondering why it is one of my passions to see folks enabled to pick up the Word and dig into it for themselves.

Several years back, I referenced some research done that indicated that, statistically, people who 'engaged' the Word at least four times a week had much fewer negative outcomes as life progressed...fewer divorces, fewer addiction issues (of all kinds), fewer instances of kids in various kinds of trouble...just, all in all, a much less traumatic life, while folks who indicated that they were followers of Jesus but did not 'engage' the Word often, it at all, actually had lives that were statistically no different than people who did not follow Jesus.

And 'engaging the Word' had three parts - 1) receive the Word, either through reading the Bible oneself, listening to an audio version, reading a book that discussed and expounded on the Word, or even listening to a teaching or sermon that expounded on the Word, 2) reflecting on the Word...that is, comparing the truth received to the way one is conducting one's life to see where the life doesn't match up and 3) responding to the Word...making corrections in the way one conducts oneself, perceives things, sets priorities, etc., so that one's life lines up to the truth received.

Step one is my soapbox.  Get into the Word.  Make it a priority.  Pay attention to what you read (all Bible study methods are basically gimmicks to help you pay attention, when you get down to it). BUT.

Steps two and three are not something that can be objectively taught.  Either someone is willing to think about what they're reading/ learning and applying it...or they're not.   Reading/ studying/ etc. is only truly beneficial if it is done for personal growth.  Not for weaponizing against someone else's ideology or action.  

Oh, of course, we are to study to show ourselves to be rightly handling the Word (2 Tim 2:15), but just reading the Word without applying the Word is...kinda pointless.

Jesus, in the 'house on the sand' parable - 

"Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?....The one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete."   - Lk 6:46, 49, NIV 84; see also Matt 7:24 - 27.

James hits this concept pretty hard in his epistle:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  James 1:23

This is what he's talking about in chapter two, when he says 'Faith without deeds is useless' (James 2:20) and 'faith without deeds is dead' (James 2:26).  Not that your deeds are what make you a believer...but that anyone who follows Jesus will do what he said.  

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me....He who does not love me will not obey my teaching."  Jesus speaking in John 14:21a and 24a.

The plain truth is that while it is important to study the Word of God...studying it without allowing it to affect the way you live and work and interact with others is, well, not very profitable.

Reading the Word is the starting point.  To fully engage...it must be implemented.

But fully engaging the Word is statistically proven to make a difference.

Receive it.

Reflect on it

Respond to it.