"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
Thanks so much to those of you who sent such kind wishes and emails my way over the Christmas holidays. I've enjoyed a restful break from the computer as I spent time with our family, and I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging and sharing with you all in the coming year.
I've been seeking the Lord for a personal theme verse for 2008. He's laid this one on my heart.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15
I remember first hearing this verse quoted by my teachers in the Christian school I attended growing up. Years later when I was teaching in that same school, I had my students memorize this verse. Now as a homeschooling mom, I have this verse on the wall in our schoolhouse. The emphasis is always put on the first part of the verse. While it is true that students should study their academic subjects, that's not what II Timothy 2:15 is referring to. Look at the last part of the verse.
"...rightly dividing the word of truth."
The Apostle Paul was exhorting Timothy to rightly divide the truth of the word of God during a time when many Christians had turned away from the truth imparted to them through Paul. They had turned back to following the law. They received the truth, but they did not continue to grow in their faith.
This year it is my desire to dig deeper into God's written word. I am blessed to be able to sit under a wonderful preacher who emphasizes the importance of knowing the context in which a passage of scripture was written. I have learned so much from listening to my husband's sermons over the past couple of years, but I can't rely on him to help me grow spiritually. As a Bible-believing Christian, I believe that the Bible is the sole authority for my faith and how I practice it. If I'm not truly studying my Bible and rightly dividing it, how can I know what I really believe? How can I help disciple other believers if I'm not grounded in truth? I am trusting God to open my eyes this year as I study the Bible.
Part of my desire to grow in my understanding of the Bible has to do with how the Lord has truly been blessing at our church. We have had someone walk the aisle and trust Christ as their Saviour each of the last four Sundays. We have also had a new family join our fellowship. What a blessing and encouragement these decisions have been!
I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for our family and church family in the coming year!
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