4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Leviticus 26-27
Mark 4:21-41

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Mark 4:33-34 (CSB): “He was speaking the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand. He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

In yesterday’s devotional, I discussed how Jesus spoke in parables to reveal truth to those who loved Him and His Word and conceal truth from everyone else. I pointed out that those who loved Jesus and His Word were motivated to dwell on his stories and words so that they could eventually understand them.

But we observe something else in today’s reading. People who love Jesus and His Word may not be able to understand God’s Word on their own, so they seek help.

The verses I chose for today say that Jesus “privately” “explained everything to his own disciples.” This was only necessary because Jesus realized the disciples would not be able to understand His Words on their own.

We are certainly not better than Jesus’ disciples. So, sometimes, our hunger to know and apply God’s Word is not enough. We may still scratch our heads as we contemplate what God means by what He has said in His Word (our Bibles).

So, we need to consult others.

First and foremost, we should consult the Holy Spirit. God’s Word tells us plainly that He has been given to us to remind us of God’s truth and to help us understand it (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12). So, before you consult anyone else to understand a passage of Scripture, pray and ask God’s Holy Spirit to help you understand it. Then, reread and reflect on the passage to see if He makes it clearer or brings other relevant Scripture to mind to help you better understand what God is saying.

Next, consult some helpful resources. The Holy Spirit, who can reveal truth to you, has certainly revealed it to others. So, consult some resources to help you understand God’s Word. A good study Bible can help (ESV Study Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, etc.). Commentaries can also help (I enjoy the Bible Knowledge Commentary). You can also gain access to study resources online (I use Logos Bible software [www.logos.com] every single day, but it can be a bit pricey).

Finally, consult a trusted pastor or studious Christian. Share the passage and your question with them. They might need a little time to study before getting back to you. But if they love God’s Word, they will be glad to help you in your quest to gain a greater understanding of the truth of God’s Word.

Friend, there are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. While we depend upon God’s grace to make any strides toward Christlikeness, it also requires that we do the hard (and enjoyable!) work of getting into God’s Word, understanding it, believing it, and living it.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to give you a greater hunger to study His Word. (Set aside a specific time when you will study it.)
  • Ask God to help you understand and apply His Word.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into the importance of studying God’s Word, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)