I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. (1 Thessalonians 5:27)(KJV)I would like to share this devotional with you from an old daily devotional book that belonged to my father. The book is entitled Beside the Still Waters. This particular devotional was written by J. B. Crichton.
Study Your Bible!
What a sound piece of advice with which to close this Epistle! Read--study your Bible! Bible study, to be profitable, however, must follow some definite pattern. The Bible lays down three fundamental rules for profitable Bible study.
First, study your Bible daily! Job testified, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12)(KJV). As the body requires food each day for nourishment, growth, and sustenance, so the soul requires a daily diet of the Word of God. Don't starve your soul!
Second, study your Bible directly! David wrote in the Psalms, "My meditation of him shall be sweet." To be really profitable, it must be your own personal study of the Word of God. davily devotional books, Bible commentaries, and sermons are valuable in their place. But if they are acting as substitutes for a personal, first-hand knowledge of the Bible in your life, then they are a detriment.
Third, study your Bible definitely! David wrote of the "blessed man" that "his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2). To be useful and fruitful, Bible study requires meditation. Griffith Thomas once said, "Meditation is attention plus intention." By that he meant that meditation was composed of two ingredients: first, giving serious thought and study to what Scripture actually says; and second, making a determined resolution that, by the grace of God, the truth of the Scripture would be put into actual daily practice.
And now let me be very practical and definite. We are urging, let's study the Bible. What are you going to do about it? Resolve to meet God alone each day in the Word and in prayer. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God..."(2 Tim. 2:15)(KJV)
Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper