SAY WHAT?!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013
 
2Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Due to familiarity, wayward language that we nonetheless understand: “… the suspect turned and fired at the police so they shot him in the parking lot.” What part of the human anatomy is that? And this one from this week reviewing someone’s college homework: Instructor’s question: “How do you prefer doing your schoolwork?” “… sitting on my bed listening to Taylor Swift doing my assignment.”
 
  Remember the first times you read texts written in your native language but they were “Greek to me.” . . . then as you worked at the task more and more it became clear to you?

  There are writings that when we first read them we have difficulty understanding. But as the instruction therein is required (vocation, career, employment, survival, et al) or desired (hobbies, amusement, participation, et al) we diligently work at reading and understanding, doing so even if it means learning new vocabulary, terminology, and various authors’ style.

  Romans 10:17 tells us that faith is the product of “hearing by the word of God.”, but considering countless hours of listening in Sunday School or pew, what does this hearing mean? With a little effort I discover it means getting the sense of the matter.

  I grew up passing algebra in High School, but clueless about it ever since. Why so? Because, like Sunday School, confirmation classes, and church for many, I was in math class but not a student. Growing up as an uninterested student of God’s Word leaves one hearing it as a foreign language.

  Like foreign exchange students that learn and precisely speak host country’s language, Bible verse memorization may be no different; mere intelligence without understanding; ever learning though never coming to knowledge of truth (2Tim.3:7).

  I remember standing sadly by my father’s casket and thinking “Who was this man?”

  It wasn’t that we were enemies or I didn’t know something of his life. We simply didn’t communicate, hence the big unanswered question. This scantiness need not be so in our relationship with the Heavenly Father, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all that was, is, and ever will be. We have vast communication from Him, His Word. Among the many things He tells is applicable understanding requires something we commonly prefer abstaining from; work.  EBB4