Five Keys to Handling God's Word

Five Keys to Handling God’s Word With Godly Competence

When we undertake to represent the Most High God and speak His eternal truth into the lives of others, we must demonstrate a certain level of competence to be taken seriously. Rest assured a Master of Divinity is not required to communicate God's truth more effectively! There are; however, some important measures we all must take to ensure God's message is transferred to others with the designs God intended. Though this article is not comprehensive, it does afford foundational instructions and principles that are always applicable to Christian servants desiring to handle the Bible faithfully.

• ·      Value It—appreciate and love God’s Word above all things knowing it is true and supremely beneficial to us as we adhere to its instructions. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128, Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 129, Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 130, The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Ps. 119:127-130)
• ·      Study It—train in the Word with great interest to please God, and to share it most effectively with others. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15)
• ·      Think It—contemplate deeply upon the Word to mature and explore new territory in Christ, to obey/practice clearly established Bible teachings, and to protect ourselves and our people from errors. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16, Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Tim. 4:15-16)
• ·      Use It—gently and patiently teach and instruct the wayward and stumbling the Word hoping for their repentance and eventual liberation from satanic lies. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26, And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Tim. 2:24-26)
• ·      Trust It—know and trust the discerning and penetrating power of the Word to reveal, expose, and evaluate our motives and desires. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)

Any genuine Christian who takes these pointers seriously will excel in their ability to communicate Christ’s precious truth to others with competence. Because we do not believe anything is good enough for Jesus, we take pains to ensure our very best efforts are rendered in His service. Christ deserves our utmost! May our ministry of the Word always honor Him!