Rightly Dividing the Word (7)

I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me. Psalm 119.30

A long obedience

One of my all-time favorite book titles is Eugene Peterson’s essay on the Christian life entitled, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Isn’t that great? That title defines the Christian’s calling to follow Jesus throughout the course of his life. It can also serve to remind us that, if we’re going to get the most out of Scripture, in our time of reading, meditating, and studying God’s Word, then we need to stand in a good place with respect to the Word of God, and to continue to stand there for the duration.

We have been considering an approach to rightly dividing the Scriptures that involves, first, submitting to the Bible as God’s Word – refusing to argue with God, and accepting His Word as the final Word on all things. As we come to God’s Word, we are determined to seek Him and His will for our lives. We want to encounter God in His Word, and not just to validate some idea or practice we hold dear. To meet the Lord, we need to savor every word of Scripture, and every truth that begins to emerge from that Word, searching the Scriptures for more light on the passage before us, and searching the teaching of others to help us learn even more. Then we need to surrender to the Word, even before we leave it, and to work hard to secure the teaching of Scripture in our souls and lives.

If we can learn to do these things consistently, we’ll be in a good position to stand on this approach to getting the most out of Scripture for the rest of our lives. But how can we make sure to maintain such a long obedience in the same direction?

Make a plan
You should start with a good plan for reading and studying the Word of God. Write it down. Offer your plan to the Lord as a covenant for growth, and share your plan with your soul friends. Your plan should include such things as what you will read each day – how many chapters, and in which order. What categories will guide your studies, so that you’ll know how to connect the things God is teaching you in their proper places in your life. What other resources you will need for your plan, such as a study Bible or a one-volume commentary on the Bible. How you will approach the task of securing the Word of God. By journaling? Memorization? With your soul friends? What group can you join to help you stay in touch with what God is teaching others?

Write all this down, date it, share it with others, then follow it assiduously. From time to time review your plan, but don’t give up on it. All plans can be difficult to follow for a variety of reasons. But good plans, followed carefully in a long obedience, tend to yield observable results. Take your stand on getting the most out of Scripture by making, following, sharing, reviewing, and updating a workable plan for your time in God’s Word.

Share the light
Next, talk with others about your time with the Lord in His Word. Share what you’re learning, but also talk about the ways you’re working to secure the Word in your soul. Invite others to share their own approach to getting the most out of Scripture. What can you learn from them?

As your plan becomes a more settled discipline and begins to bear real fruit, you’ll have much more to talk about and share. You’ll enjoy talking about your time in God’s Word, and this will help to secure the Word and your approach more firmly, so that you are able to stand on your plan with greater confidence.

Gather your friends
Finally, get some friends together, share your plan and approach to getting the most out of God’s Word, and challenge them to join you in this adventure. Lead your friends through the studies in this series, and show them what you’re doing to make each of the seven facets of this process a working reality in your own life. Choose a book of the Bible to study together, all using the same approach, and come together regularly to discuss what you’re learning.

Take a stand for a sound and consistent approach to getting the most out of God’s Word. Don’t just dabble in the process or merely try it out for a season. Make a commitment! Lay out a plan and start working your plan for the long haul. You won’t always to be able to do everything you’ve planned, but if you’re on track with a specific commitment, you’ll be able to come back to your plan whenever necessary.

Getting the most out of God’s Word requires a lifetime of faithfully coming to Scripture and listening for the voice of God. The devil will try to discourage you, or make you feel like you/re trapped in some form of legalism.

But don’t listen to him. Just keep pressing on in the same direction, following the plan God has given you, rightly dividing the Word of truth, and taking your stand for getting the most out of Scripture.

For reflection
1.  Where do you stand in your approach to getting the most out of Scripture? Where would you like to improve? 


2.  Why is “a long obedience in the same direction” a good way to think about your relationship to the Word of God? 


3.  How can believers help one another to get the most out of Scripture? 


Next steps – Transformation: Draw up a plan to incorporate all the facets we have discussed in this series. Share your plan with your soul friends.

T. M. Moore

To learn more about understanding and using the Bible, enroll in the course, Introduction to Biblical Theology. It’s free and online, and you can study at your own pace or with friends. To learn more and to register, click here. This week’s study is Part 7 of a series on The Word of God, and is available as a free download by clicking here.

The key to understanding the Bible is to see Jesus in all its parts, as centerpiece and fulfillment of God’s covenant and promises. Our workbook, God’s Covenant, takes you through the entire Bible, following the development of themes related to God’s covenant, and consummated in Jesus Christ. Here’s an effective tool for helping you read the Bible through God’s eyes. Order your copy by clicking here.

Please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. We ask the Lord to move and enable many more of our readers to provide for the needs of our ministry. Please seek Him in prayer concerning your part in supporting our work. You can contribute online, via PayPal, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.