Do Your Best
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
What God intended for us to know in this passage is that we are responsible to learn God’s word and be willing to teach it properly. Of course, since Paul is writing to a young evangelist, we should understand that every evangelist should follow these words of advise.
The King James version of the bible starts this verse off: “study to shew thyself approved…”
The New King James and the New American Standard versions start this verse off with: “Be diligent to present yourself to God as one who does not need to be ashamed…” Some of the more modern versions have what I think is the best wording on this passage. The NIV and the CEV versions read : “Do your best…” The Living Bible reads: “Work hard…”. What all these versions convey to us is that we are supposed to study God’s word well enough so that we can present it to others without being ashamed of what it teaches. It also means that we do not apologize for the Bible if people are offended by the truth. Because the truth hurts, and the reason the truth hurts is because it is right.
Many people who wear the name “Christian” do not study God’s word enough. Oh, they may read from time to time, and they may even read the Bible through from beginning to end. But if they are not putting what they read into application, they are wasting their time. Reading and knowing what God expects of you is not the same as to actually do what God wants you to do. Another problem is that too many people take what their teachers give them without checking to see if it agrees with the Bible. Read Acts 17:11
The purpose of the context of this passage is, as we read in the NIV, to correctly handle the word of Truth. One version says that in order to do this we must “rightly divide the word of Truth” We must be diligent, that is to make every effort and to work hard to accomplish this. We must learn God’s word and do God’s word before we can teach God’s word. Read Ezra 7:10. There is a great responsibility to become a teacher of God’s Word. Every preacher should approach their duty with the intention of teaching exactly what God wants the people to know. Read 1 Peter 4:11.
Our goal at the Hwy 90 Church of Christ is to teach the truth of God’s word properly. We are very careful to respect the Bible and to recognize it as our source of authority. Our studies are simple yet intensive. We really want to learn God’s word so that we will not be ashamed of it or ashamed to teach it to others. If this sounds like one of your goals, please come visit us.
In the end, we want to stand before God as a group of people who taught the truth of God’s word, and was not ashamed to do so.
God is not willing that any perish (2 Peter 3:9). You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for your sins. (Acts 8:37). You must repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), you must confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32) and you must be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Then you must remain faithful and continue learning how to serve God (2 Peter 3:18). Let us help you on your spiritual journey. May God bless you in your study of His word.
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By Carey Scott via the Madisonville Meteor; September 9, 2009

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