Passing Tests

Study, Study, Study

If you have teen-agers in your life, you’re probably aware this week (last week, if you’re reading this in Sunday) is Finals Week for many of them. Just reading that kind of gives me the willies. “Finals” means so much studying – reading notes, reading textbooks, practicing problems – all stuff at which I was never too great. But you have to do it. You have to be able to pass the tests.

As Christians, we have tests we have to pass every day. Not the “What’s the capital of Djibouti?” type exams necessarily. But, we face tests, challenges, trials of some sort on a daily basis. How do we “pass” them? We have to study. Our textbook, however, is different. It is a collection of God’s inspired words to us. Do you ever think about that? The Bible you read, write notes in, and bring to worship may be published by Nelson or Crossway or whoever; however, it is God’s very words to us. When you think of it in that light, it stands to reason…we ought to know it.

I mentioned in Sunday morning class how stunned I was to find so many religious websites which had the order of the Ten Commandments messed up. That was stunning to me! That is one of those things we just ought to know! (Especially if you’re putting it out for the world to see!) But, I’m not really talking just about memorizing Bible facts. You and I need to be people who truly desire knowing God as best we can. One of our brothers in Christ here at Linder has been an inspiration to me lately in his pursuit of a more complete Bible understanding. He and I have shared study tools and websites and I’d like to share them with you. We live in an era of never-before-seen availability. You can go online or in our church library and find a wealth of information to assist you in studying God’s word.

In our library, let me recommend the Truth for Today commentary series. They are written by Christians and are very scholarly. But, they are also very readable and practical. Also, take the time to look through the bound “Reason and Revelation” series by Apologetics Press. They’re members of the church who publish awesome Christian evidence material.

Online you can find an absolute wealth of very scholarly study tools. However, please read this DISCLAIMER: Many, if not most, of them are produced by folks who, though they obviously have good intentions, have very un-biblical ideas about the Plan of Salvation. So – be warned. Let me just recommend a few sites which have amazing study tools: 1) biblegateway.com; 2) biblesuite.com; 3) studylight.org.

There are many others, but these are just a few I use. See, the “I can’t find Bible study helps anywhere” excuse just went away! In Ps 119:15-16, the Psalmist says, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (NKJV). What a great attitude! I want to be that way, don’t you? I want to be equipped to pass the tests which are, without a doubt, going to show up in my life.