Approach your Bible Obediently (Part 2)

 

Heart Posture One - Approach your Bible Prayerfully

Heart Posture Two - Approach your Bible Humbly

Heart Posture Three - Approach your Bible Desperately

Heart Posture Four - Approach your Bible Studiously 

Heart Posture Five - Approach your Bible Obediently

 

This week we will conclude looking at heart posture five - Approach your Bible Obediently. 

 

WE read in Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” Warren Wiersbe comments on this verse as follows: “They were not only to hear the Word, but they were also to keep it—that is, guard it as a treasure and practice what it said. The blessing would come, not just by hearing, but even more so by doing (James 1:22–25).”

“Slow obedience is no obedience.” Or as another author reminds us that  “Shallow obedience to the Bible is one of the most subtle snares Satan places before us.” The new testament stresses an urgency as it relates to our  heart attitude of obedience as we approach our Bible study. 

Matthew 7:24-27 ²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

James 1:22 ²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

1 John 2:4-5 ⁴ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 5:2-3 - ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 

As we read the New Testament the references go on and on … In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When we read Matthew 28 we think of evangelism, and discipleship, missions, and worship. As we should. But it is vital that we read slowly and alertly enough not to miss easy-to-miss words. Jesus didn’t say “Teach them everything I have commanded you.” Jesus did say “teach them to OBSERVE everything I have commanded you.” Observe means to OBEY. 

 
“The Risen King sends his servants into the world not merely to impart information, but to promote obedience.” 

 The reality is that holiness (a.k.a. obedience to the Lord) is part of the Great Commission. Integral to the Great Commission is obedient followers. Integral to a fruitful program of bible reading and study is a heart attitude desiring obedience. 

Does this sound too demanding? Let me conclude with Matt Smethurst’s concluding comments: 

The Bible is not an arbitrary list of prohibitions; it’s an epic story of a Creator more committed to your joy than you could imagine. Entrusting each sphere of your life to Him, therefore, is not something you do instead of enjoying Him; it’s the way you enjoy Him. Following Him is not an alternate to your joy; it’s the SECRET to it.

So approach your Bible obediently, because obedience produces joy.

Two verses for you to have in mind as you approach Bible reading/Study:

 

Psalm 119:111-112 

¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage forever; 

they are the joy of my heart. 

¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees 

to the very end. ^a

 

See You Sunday,

 

Pastor Byron 

 

Next week’s E-Bulletin – Approach your Bible Joyfully

 

This Sunday’s Passage – 23:32–43