In the same way, for Christian, studying of God’s Word is critical and imperative so that we can successfully live out our Christian faith in a hostile world. Paul exhorts us in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Our church places great emphasis on reading, understanding and applying God’s word in every situation that life may throw at us. When tempted by Satan, Jesus Christ used God’s word to fend Satan off and he overcame Satan’s temptation. Similarly, we should use it in times of temptation. This will ensure that we can be emerge victorious and overcome temptationz from our arch-enemy, Satan. During the Dedication Sunday, Pastor exhorted and challenged us to complete reading the Bible in one to two years. At the same time, he exhorted us to complete reading the Westminister’s Confession of Faith.
God’s Word is critical for our salvation, spiritual maturity, and it guards us against falsehood and false doctrines. Paul, in Ephesians 4:11-16, emphasises the importance of studying God’s Word so that we can be equipped for work of service, mature and defend ourselves against all erroneous teachings. Ephesians 4:11-16 reads,
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Likewise Peter exhorts us in 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Let us resolve in our hearts to be diligent student of God’s Word as we embark on the year 2020. We are also to be faithful in attending worship service and keeping our daily Bible time. Avail yourself to good Christian books such as autobiographies of Christians and commentaries. Our Adult and Youth Sunday School will study the Westminister Confession of Faith. May I encourage you to attend the class so that, together, we can complete the Westminister Confession of Faith. This will lay for us a solid Christian doctrinal foundation. May I encourage you to take down notes during worship service. Follow the reasoning and exposition of scripture. Be humble and be teachable. Make every attempt to know and understand scripture and make personal applications for your own life. In this way, you will grow in grace and knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.
God’s Word will ensure that we can be successful and prosperous in our life. Joshua 1:8 gives us the promise that if we study diligently and obey God’s Word, we will be successful and prosperous: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
May we emulate the Israelites who took God’s Word seriously. Knowing God’s Word sets the Israelites apart from the world. May we be a good students of God’s Word so that we can be set apart from the world and have a successful and prosperous life.