What am I doing to know and put into practice the teachings of the Bible?

A Quality of a Mature, Reproducing Disciple of Jesus Christ

SCRIPTURE

Studied: 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:3–8

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

1. 2 Timothy 3:16 ~ Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action)
   
2. 2 Peter 1:3-8 ~ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

1. Although in the scriptures we note that the books were written by prophets and apostles, such as the book of Timothy being written by Paul, we must be reminded that the scriptures are God breathed and inspired. They are delivered to us as words from Christ. This tells me that they are of super importance and required my very candid attention and sincere obedience. I have personally found that reading the scriptures help me to conform to the character and image of Christ, and as I strive to be a ‘Christian’ (little Christ), then conforming to the scriptures is my heart’s desire. However, just as this is helpful in my training, I am convinced that the scripture should be the primary tool that I use in instructing others – teaching.
   
2. I especially like the first sentence that tells me that here comes some qualities that God has showed on us as Christians so that we can live a Godly life. Then in the last sentence it tells me why it is so important for me to follow what was just instructed – because it will help me to be more productive and useful in my knowledge of Jesus Christ. Wow, this really sums it up for living a biblically sound life after the image and character of our Lord Jesus Christ. The ‘meat’ in between is something that we can and should meditate and grow on daily, and I found that the Amplified Bible translation explain those best: “For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), and in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), and in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).“
   

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, You have spoken very clearly in Your Word this morning. Please help me to stay so in tuned with Your Word that my every step will be led by Your Holy Spirit and compliant with Your instructions. I believe that this is necessary to live a biblically correct life and one that is pleasing to You. I believe that as Your Word is entrenched in me and practiced in my everyday life, others will be influenced to know the Savior that I love and adore. May You receive honor and glory from my daily walk, dear God.