No Shame About What God Has Said

We are winding down with our devotionals from Pastor Wayne Cockrell! Make no mistake-these devotionals are meaty morsels written to fortify you for your day's journey! Be encouraged, Church Family!

One of the spiritual challenges to our spiritual growth in Christ is to not in any way be ashamed of what we believe. The beginning of our faith must be settled upon the fact that the Bible is the Word of God to us and the very way we can understand Him. When we consider verses that speak to the reality of our faith like (Hebrews 11:1; 6), we are reminded that our faith is not only that we believe in God, but we believe in our God who is personally interactive with us. He has spoken one time for all time. God’s Word to us is essential to the lives we live. In the context of the verses for our devotion we see the priority of the Word and the essential need for studying to know it and to know our LORD through it, because there is much false teaching, ideologies and propaganda that has not only gone out into the world, but has infiltrated the visible community of the Christian Church. God’s true children must be very serious about knowing exactly what God has to say, because God has already said it.

God says that we must become DILIGENT in our study (2 Timothy 2:15a). The word diligent means to make every effort or be very serious in our efforts, since we do believe it is God’s Word. How can we give anything less when the goal of studying is to live lives that we can be approved unto God? The diligence that is required from us involves the practice that we read it, study it, remember it and meditate upon it so that the application of it to our lives will be approved unto God who is our first and highest audience.

God also says that we must become DISCIPLINED in our study (2 Timothy 2:15b). The New English Translation says, “…present yourselves before God as a proven worker….” WE are to be workmen, those who work at knowing and living in the way that is well pleasing to God. God wants us to become skilled craftsmen in our understanding and application of His Word and that requires that our study becomes a disciplined and consistent practice in our lives. In simple language the goal is to get good with the use of the Word. When you consider the fakes, distractions, counterfeits, and opinions expressed in 2 Timothy 2:14; 16-18, it has resulted in some who have occupied themselves with these things to the extent of straying from the truth. How many times have you been tested and tempted to follow the wrong teachings that are well-crafted lies that only your skill with the Word has kept you from potential straying in your faith walk with God?

God also says that we must become right DIVIDERS in our study (2 Timothy 2:15c). The most important thing is for us to understand what God means before we can accurately understand what God intends for it to mean to us. Understanding is not just for Pastors and those who have the roles and gifts of feeding the sheep, but every child of God is under the expectation to know what our God and Father has given unto all of His children to know. Rightly dividing or accurately handling has a meaning to cut straight or build straight (Isaiah 28:10). Precepts upon precepts. Line upon line. Truth is built upon truth. Principles are built upon principles. Every word is from God. We cannot skillfully practice without an accurate understanding of what God means. If you do not enjoy reading the Word, then you will not enjoy studying it. If you do not enjoy studying it, you will not enjoy meditating upon it. If you do not enjoy meditating on what God says to us, then you will not enjoy being obedient to what God expects of us. The Psalmist says to God, “O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Prayer: Father in heaven, fill us with understanding in our hearts so that our knowledge of You will be rooted in the core of our souls. May Your Word dwell richly in us so that it becomes the direction and counsel for the lives we live for Your glory. We will always give You the praise and the thanks, in Jesus name, amen.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell