Study the Bible and Know God’s Will

As believers, we should have a desire to know God's will, not only for our lives, but for the world. This is why we pray, “Your kingdom come and Your will be done.” It is why seek guidance from older wiser Christians who have faithfully followed Jesus. It is why we study the Bible, God’s word to His people.

The Bible is God's inspired word, which means it is the ultimate guide for our lives. Through the Scriptures God reveals His character, His plan for humanity, and His will for our lives. Therefore, if we want to know God's will, we need to become students of Scripture.

How do we become students of the Bible?

Here are three things you can do to become a student of God’s word.

Personal Reading and Study

Personal Bible study is a crucial discipline for every Christian. It is through reading and meditating on the Word of God that we come to know Him intimately. Reading and studying the Scriptures allows us to discover the character of God, His love for us, and His plan for our lives. It is also through personal Bible study that we develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with God.

To get the most out of our personal reading and studying we need a plan. Earlier this year I wrote about what I do to study the Bible (Take Time to Study). When it comes to reading find a plan that works for you and don’t get discouraged if you are inconsistent with it at first. The goal is to read, even it is just a chapter a day. When it comes to studying, I would suggest choosing a book of the Bible and reading through it a good study Bible and taking notes. Olive Tree Bible Software is good way to go to help in this process.

Study with Qualified Teachers

In addition to personal study, it is essential to sit under the instruction of qualified teachers. Pastors, Bible study leaders, and other Christian leaders who are well-versed in the Scriptures can help us understand and apply the Word of God to our lives.

However, we must be discerning in our choice of teachers. We need to seek out those who are faithful to the Scriptures and are committed to teaching the whole counsel of God. In other words we want to find teachers and preachers who use the Bible as the foundation of their teaching. One of the ways I do this is to study and teach the Bible through some of the themes that run through Scripture. The two big themes that have influenced my teaching recently are the themes of covenant and Kingdom of God.

Diligence and Intentionality

Finally, we need to be diligent and intentional in our study of Scripture. This requires that we carve out time for it on a regular basis. We need to be reading the Bible everyday as it gives us truth to meditate on and to guide our prayers. Our personal study of Scripture can also be daily as we do our own study with commentaries and study Bibles on one day, studying with a group on another day, and listening to sermons and podcasts on another day. The goal isn’t about learning on the information that we can, but to gain wisdom. Biblical wisdom is the knowledge for living well in God’s world.

The intentionality of studying and reading is crucial. Find a rhythm of reading, meditating, and study that works for you. We need to set aside distractions and other priorities that can hinder our ability to focus on studying God's Word.


If we want to know God's will we must become students of Scripture. Personal study and sitting under qualified teachers are essential parts of this process. We must also be diligent and intentional in our study of God's Word, making it a priority in our daily lives.

As we seek to know God through His Word, we will discover His will, not only for our lives, but for the world. This will influence the way we live as we follow Jesus.

EDC Wednesday: Carry a Knife

 

Human beings have been carrying knives for centuries, as they are versatile tools that can come in handy in a wide variety of situations.

The first knives were sharpened rocks, bones, or metals that had some sort of handle for a person to hold. These knives were used for cutting and scraping tasks, and because of their usefulness, people began carrying knives with them all the time.

The exact origin of folding knives is unknown, as they have been used for centuries and have evolved over time. However, evidence shows that folding knives were used in ancient Rome, Greece, and even in the Bronze Age. These early folding knives were made from bronze, iron, and eventually steel. 

During the Middle Ages, folding knives became popular among nobility as a symbol of status and wealth. Folding knives became popular in the American colonies in the 1600s as an essential part of daily life for farmers and other people who made their living with their hands.

Although our technology has made the daily need for a good cutting tool almost obsolete, a good folding knife is still an essential part of a good EDC. Whether you're working in the yard, doing a DIY project, cooking supper, camping, hiking, or just running errands around town, having a folding knife in your pocket can ensure that you are prepared for any cutting tasks that may come your way.

A few of the knives in my collection.

Here are some reasons why carrying a folding knife is a good idea:

Everyday tasks

From opening packages to cutting rope, there are countless everyday tasks that can be made easier with a folding knife. Instead of struggling to open a package with your bare hands, you can simply use your knife to slice through the tape. Instead of trying to break that dangling thread on your shirt, you can simply cut it off. Instead of tearing open that birthday card from your mom, you can make a nice clean cut with your knife instead. Instead of searching around for a clean knife in the kitchen, slice those veggies up with the slicer in your pocket.

Emergency situations

In an emergency situation, a folding knife can be a lifesaver. Although a knife with a blade less than 3 inches long is perfectly capable of handling 98% of the cutting tasks that will pop up in our daily lives, in many emergency situations that might arise, such as cutting a seatbelt in a car accident or creating a makeshift shelter in the wilderness, a larger knife provides you with the tool you need to get the job done. It's always better to be prepared for the unexpected, and a good medium to large folding knife can help you be prepared.

Utility tool

A folding knife is also a valuable utility tool when the right tool isn't within reach. It is important to remember that while we have all used a knife for something other than cutting, these are not approved uses for a knife. You can use a knife to tighten screws, strip wires, or even to remove a splinter. With a little creativity, you can use a folding knife to tackle all sorts of tasks.

Self-defense

While we hope to never find ourselves in a situation where we need to defend ourselves, it's always better to be prepared. The reality is that unless you are trained to use a knife for self-defense, you are just as likely to hurt yourself as you are your attacker. But, in a life or death situation, using a knife might help you ward off an attacker or create an escape route. Of course, it's important to remember that using a knife in self-defense should always be a last resort, and only used when absolutely necessary.

Personal Expression

For many people, carrying a folding knife is a way to express their personal style. This is particularly true among the EDC community, where there is a wide variety of knives available in different colors, materials, and designs. Personally, I still want a brass handle knife because I think it looks cool when paired with leather.

However, it's important to remember that carrying a knife also comes with responsibilities. You must be aware of local laws and regulations governing knife ownership and use.

Some states and many cities have ordinances that limit the blade length on folding knives to less than 3 inches. To comply with local laws, I bought a Kizer Dukes with a 3-inch blade to carry when traveling.

Since knives are tools and not toys (although the fidget factor on many folding knives is pretty high), we should treat them as such. It's important to handle your knife with care and never use it in a way that could harm yourself or others.

Carrying a folding knife can be a valuable tool for a variety of situations, whether you're out camping, running errands, or going about your daily life. By keeping a knife in your pocket, you can be prepared for whatever comes your way.

Fight Against Sin

William Wilberforce was a British politician and Christian abolitionist who dedicated his life to the eradication of the slave trade in the British Empire. He believed that slavery was a sin and that it was the duty of Christians to fight against it. In his book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce wrote, “"In the same way, God has called us to be the sworn enemies of sin. We are to wage war against it and strive to give it no opportunity in our lives." (p. 65)

In the same way that Wilberforce fought against the sin of slavery, he believed that Christians should wage war against all sin. He understood that sin was a destructive force that had the power to harm individuals, families, church families, local communities, and entire societies.

 

Wilberforce believed that Christians had a responsibility to fight against sin and strive to give it no opportunity in their lives. When we deal with our own individual sin it lessens the impact that sin has on those around us.

The Bible also teaches that sin is a powerful force that can lead to death and destruction. Romans 6:23 (CSB) says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Sin separates us from God and leads us down a path of destruction.

Followers of King Jesus are called to be sworn enemies of sin, because we know the destructive nature sin has in our lives. 

To be an enemy of sin means that we should not tolerate sin in our lives and that help others to overcome the sin in their lives. We are to strive to live a life that demonstrates God’s character and avoid the paths of temptation that lead us to sin. 

We live in a sin corrupted world which is constantly trying to pull us away from following Jesus. This means being an enemy of sin, even when we know it is evil, will not be easy. Temptation will still come our way and sin will still be present in our lives. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can make progress in overcoming sin and live a life that honors Jesus’ sacrifice and reflects the image of God into the world.

Waging war against sin also means that we should be actively involved in fighting against the sin in our world. This includes standing up against injustice, as we fighting against poverty and oppression, and working to bring hope and healing to those who are hurting. We should use our resources, talents, and influence to make a positive impact in the world and to fight against the forces of sin and evil. 

Remember, we can’t win this fight on our own, so we join forces with others working in these areas, offering our prayers and money to extend our love into areas we wouldn’t otherwise be able to go.

This quote from William Wilberforce reminds us that as Christians, we are called to be sworn enemies of sin. It is crucial that we wage war against it and strive to give it no opportunity in our lives. 

For us to do that we need to live a life that bears God’s image of love and holiness by loving our neighbor, working to make a positive impact in the world, and doing what we can to fight against the injustice that is in the world. 

My prayer is that we will be inspired by Wilberforce's example and live a life that is dedicated to fighting against sin and promoting righteousness.

The Good of Inconvenience

In June of 2004 I met a young girl named Kylee while being a family leader and teacher at First Chance Camp. At first, Kylee was very quiet but by the mid-day of the first full day of camp, she had attached herself to me, literally. 

It was irritating that she called me Baldy (I had shaved my head due to a hair cutting accident), stole my hat, and hung on me constantly. I was very annoyed when she grabbed my hand on the last night of camp and pulled me to the campfire to sit by her. I did not want to sit by her, I wanted to do whatever I could to get away from her.

On the way back to the cabins after the campfire, God used Kylee, a nine-year-old girl, to remind me what is important. She told me that her dad was killed in an accident in April and that I was now her dad. 

This caused my eyes to tear up as my perspective shifted. Now, I understood why she harassed me, or as she put it, terrorized me. While I was focused on my comfort, I had missed the pain in Kylee's life.

Dealing with difficult people is something we all have to face. Some people are so needy that they drain our strength. Others seem to get on our nerves just by existing.  Still others tell such outlandish stories that you wonder if you can believe a word that they say. 

Everyone has "unlovable" people in their lives.

The reason we believe they are "unlovable" is because we only see one side of them, and we miss the part of their lives that few people know about. Tragedy, abuse, accidents, and family life all have a significant impact on shaping who we are. 

I bet there is a reason why the annoying people in your life are annoying.

As we seek to tell people about God's love and serve those in need, we won't always deal with people whose personality is compatible with ours. Sooner or later we will encounter people who make life uncomfortable for us. These people provide us with the ultimate test of love. 

It is easy to love the people we enjoy, but it is different to love those who inconvenience our lives.

In Mark 6:31-34, we see that Jesus was being inconvenienced. People came from all over to take from Jesus. They were sick, crippled, and poor, which meant they had nothing to offer. They just wanted Jesus to help them. There were so many people that Jesus didn’t even have time to eat. His desire was to retreat, to go to a solitary place and rest. But  people discovered where he was heading and were waiting for him when he arrived. Jesus offered no rebuke or excuse. Instead, he had compassion on these inconvenient people and took time to help them.

Jesus is our example of how we are to act towards those difficult people in our lives. We may be tired, uncomfortable, and inconvenienced, but we still need  to do our best to help those who cross our paths. We should have compassion on them, not because they have something to offer us, but because they are people created in God’s image.

On the last day of camp, Kylee's mom came to pick her up. She explained to me how Kylee's father died and apologized if Kylee had been a nuisance. I shook my head and said, "She was no problem." My perspective had changed. I no longer saw Kylee as an annoyance but as a little girl who needed to be loved. 

To demonstrate God’s character in this world means we need to show compassion to those inconvenient people in our lives.