KNOW THE WORD
By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson

The bible instructs us in 2Timoty 2:15 that:
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

According to the Oxford English Mini-dictionary, “study” is to spend time and effort in learning. Therefore, in the verse above, we are being directed as children of God to spend time and effort in learning the bible or the word, so that, we can apply it correctly in our lives. When we do this we will gain approval from God.

How do we study the word? And why study the word? These are some views from the bible on how and why we study the word:

Meditate on the word and obey it and you would have success. (Joshua 1 : 8).
Hide the word in your heart and you would not sin (Psalm 119:11)
Delight in the word of God and you will not forget it (Psalm 119:16)
Seek to apply the word of God to every situation in your life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2)

Meditate on the word of God and you would have success
Joshua 1 : 8
This book of law shall not depart out of your mouth: but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

To meditate means to think deeply or focus one’s mind in silence on something for relaxation or religious purposes. This verse is telling us not only to read the word of God but to think deeply about what we read and focus our mind on it in silence. When we do this, the word becomes part of us and it is easy to obey it. Not just obey part of it but all of it. Then we would become prosperous and have good success.

A good way of successfully meditating on the word of God is to pick key verses from our quiet time each morning. It is not easy to meditate on long passages from the bible but pick one or two verses and focus your mind on it throughout the day.

If this is done each day of the year, by the end of the year we would have memorized several verses from the bible which we can apply to our lives when the need arises.

Hide the word of God in your heart and you would not forget it
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

It is God’s desire that we do not sin, and we are as holy as He is holy. Like this verse says, if we hide the word of God in our hearts, we would not sin against God.

To hide means to keep secret or conceal. The heart is used to love and keep the treasures of life. We must see the word of God as something we treasure. Spend time studying the bible, book by book or topic by topic. As you study the word, memorize the important commandments and laws we need to obey and work on it.

Let us compare this to the relationship between a man and his bride. As they get to know each other, they get to know each other’s likes and dislikes. These likes and dislikes are well noted and they both learn as much as possible to do only what the other likes.

That is how our relationship with God should be. Our greatest desire should be to do only what God likes. This would keep us from sin and make us win God’s approval.

Delight in the word of God and you will not forget it
Psalm 119:16
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

To delight in something is to find great pleasure in that thing. Statutes from the verse quoted refer to the laws of God which are found in His word, the bible. If you find great pleasure in something you spend a lot of time and energy on it. The bible should be our close companion. We have to read it day and night and it should be our point of reference. When we come against any problem, we should refer to the bible for direction.

In order not to forget it we must memorize as many verses as possible just as we memorize key points when studying for an examination. We are not going to write an examination on the bible but memorizing it would help us to know what to do when we face problems and we do not have the bible close by. It will also help us obey God’s commands and instructions so we can please Him and win His approval.

Seek to apply the word of God to every situation in your life
2 Timothy 3;16-17
All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The scriptures according to this verse were written by inspiration from God. This implies that it brings out God’s mind on various issues. If you need teaching on a particular subject like prosperity, search the word. You need to correct someone, read the word for direction on how to do it. Whatever it is that you need to do, you can find help in the bible. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, there is nothing new under the sun. Everything that happens has occurred before.

The bible is complete, comprehensive and lacking nothing. Let us make it our guide for life issues.

Preach the word
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

This verse encourages us to preach the word at all times, in season and out of season. If the bible is such a great book which has instructions on every issue in life then we do not have to keep the good news to ourselves. We have to spread it and let the whole world hear about it.

To be able to preach the word effectively we have to study it well. We need to know the word, understand it and practice it as well. We have to be faithful in having our quiet time daily, spend time having bible study, meditating on the word and memorizing it.

Conclusion
Studying the bible as directed in this write-up may seem difficult and boring. However, the youth should spend time studying the word.

Philippians 4:13 says:
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pray for grace and the ability to study the word and obey it and God will help and direct you.

References:
Internet bible
King James Bible
Oxford English Mini-dictionary.