When I was in college my great claim to fame was that my GPA went up every semester. What I don’t brag about is that I had a habit of cramming for exams. I’d attend classes (usually) and take notes. I’d even read (most) of the required reading (sometimes right in class). However, I rarely (not never) regularly studied through the semester. This always became evident when an unexpected quiz was handed to me as I walked into the classroom.
At the end of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he lists a number of rapid fire instructions. Because they are quick, bullet-point type of instruction, we may tend to miss their importance. In 5:19-22 he writes, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” (emphasis mine)
What are we to test everything against? What is the measuring rod? Of course, it is God’s Word. If we don’t know God’s Word, we cannot test everything against it. Our daily life provides us with unexpected quizzes each day that, if we pay attention, reveal how we are doing.
We go to a movie and watch images that are contrary to God’s teaching, but if we’ve not studied the Bible, Satan has easy access into our thought life. We hear a preacher says something and accept it simply because he’s a preacher. We mindlessly listen to the radio and let the message covered with a great tune get into our brain.
Paul challenges us to study God’s Word so we can test everything. Not just for the final test but for the quizzes along the way.
Studying God’s Word requires more than a 10 minute ‘devotional’ read. Those readings are important and are effective at allowing God to speak to you on a regular basis, but studying for the test requires some focused and intentional time in addition to those brief daily readings.
Get yourself a set of commentaries; you don’t have to spend much. The Life Application Bible Commentary is a great, inexpensive set of paperback commentaries that provide a great balance of information and application.
