Come Let Us Study

Come, Let Us Study the Word Together

Bill Myers

The Word of God is not merely a book to be read; it is the living truth through which God reveals His character, His will, His promises, and His plan for humanity. In a world filled with competing voices, opinions, philosophies, and distractions, we need the sure foundation of Scripture more than ever. The invitation is simple: Come, let us study the Word together. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.” This invitation reminds us that God desires us to come into His presence, open our hearts, and seek understanding through His truth.

The Word of God is our foundation. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Just as our physical bodies need food to live and remain healthy, our spirits need the Word of God for strength and nourishment. The Bible strengthens us when we are weak, corrects us when we go astray, encourages us when we are discouraged, and teaches us how to walk faithfully with God. Psalm 119:105 declares, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God's Word gives us direction when we do not know which way to turn and provides light when the road ahead seems dark. When we study Scripture, we discover God's wisdom and learn how He desires us to live.

We must also study the Bible with open and humble hearts. Bible study should be more than simply collecting information or gaining knowledge. We should approach God's Word with a sincere desire to hear His voice and understand His will. The psalmist prayed in Psalm 119:18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” This should also be our prayer. We need God to open our understanding because it is possible to read the words of Scripture without fully grasping their spiritual meaning. Therefore, whenever we open the Bible, we should pray for wisdom, listen carefully, and allow the inspired word to guide us. Jesus promised His apostles in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth.

The Bible also calls us to search the Scriptures carefully. The Bereans provide an excellent example for us. Acts 17:11 tells us that they “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” They were willing to listen, but they also examined what they heard in the light of God's Word. This is an important lesson for us today. We should not build our faith solely upon personalities, traditions, popular opinions, or human philosophies. Instead, we should continually ask, “What does the Bible say?” Studying together gives us an opportunity to ask questions, examine Scripture carefully, compare Scripture with Scripture, and grow in our understanding of God's truth.

The ultimate purpose of studying Scripture is to know Christ. Bible study is not simply about becoming more knowledgeable; it is about developing a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Scripture points us toward Christ, His character, His teachings, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His promise of salvation. As we study the Bible, we should seek to see Jesus more clearly and understand God's love more deeply. The more we learn about Christ, the more we should desire to follow Him and reflect His character in our lives.

However, studying the Word is not enough if we do not put what we learn into practice. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Bible study should result in a transformed life. If Scripture teaches us to forgive, we should forgive. If it teaches us to love our enemies, we should seek to love them. If it teaches us to be honest, humble, compassionate, patient, faithful, and holy, then these qualities should become evident in the way we live. The purpose of studying God's Word is not merely to know more about the Bible but to allow its truth to change our hearts, guide our decisions, and shape our daily lives.

There is also great value in studying God's Word together. We are not meant to walk the Christian journey alone. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” When believers gather together around Scripture with humility, love, and a sincere desire to learn, we can encourage one another, strengthen one another, and learn from one another. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages believers to consider how they may encourage one another toward love and good works and not forsake assembling together. When we study together, we have the opportunity to grow not only in knowledge but also in faith, fellowship, encouragement, and obedience.

So, come, let us study the Word together. Let us open the Scriptures with hungry hearts and willing minds. Let us ask questions, seek understanding, examine what we believe, and allow God's Word to speak for itself. Let us seek truth rather than simply looking for confirmation of our own opinions. Let us compare Scripture with Scripture, pray for understanding, learn from one another, and above all, seek Jesus. As we study, may God's Word take root deeply within our hearts and produce faith, obedience, wisdom, love, and hope in our lives.

Second Timothy 2:15 gives us this powerful instruction: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” May we take this responsibility seriously. Let us not be satisfied with a shallow knowledge of God's Word, but let us become diligent students of Scripture. Let us read it, meditate upon it, discuss it, apply it, and share its truth with others. The invitation remains: Come, let us open God's Word. Let us learn together. Let us grow together. Let us encourage one another. Let us draw closer to Christ together. And let us allow the truth of Scripture to transform our lives. Come, let us study the Word together.

Built-in Mirrors

Dress-up occasions. Did you ever attend an event where you need to look especially formal, with a nice suit or classy dress, and wonder when you arrive if everything looks right? As a preacher, this happens all the time. And then I’ll start thinking, “Is my tie straight? Did I cut myself shaving and not stop the bleeding?” I worry about that stuff because, over the decades, it has happened many times.

Earlier this week, I woke up in the night, and as I did in the total darkness, I could see eyes looking back at me. This has happened before and I don’t know if it is a reflection off the insides of my eyelids, or if my brain is just trying to accustom me to wakefulness. But, in any case, I think it would be helpful to have automatic mirrors so I could see myself, especially in those formal situations.

God also wants us to be constantly aware of ourselves; not so much our physical appearance, but what really matters: how do we look to God – our spiritual appearance. Remember, He can see to the very core of our souls (Psalm 139)!

God gives us plenty of warning about checking ourselves out.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV). You mean we can be disqualified! Now that’s attention getting.

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load” (Galatians 6:3-5). We can, indeed, be fooling ourselves.

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1). Coming just short of God’s finish line is the worst of tragedies.

You might be wondering exactly how you can examine yourself, so the above horrible results don’t happen to you. Where is this spiritual mirror we can use?

God gives us one, His message to us: the Bible. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).

How do you look?

 Jeff Greene

A Delicious Delicacy

Have you tried dry land fish? A ginseng-hunting friend of mine in Tennessee was always going on about this tasty treat. Dry land fish, otherwise known as morchella (or morels), a genus of the fungus family, are mushroom-colored and remind me of tiny pale pine trees.

I seldom eat mushrooms by themselves, but they augment burgers and steaks very nicely. Though my old buddy always raved about dry land fish, I think they tasted pretty much like most other mushrooms.

What is a delicacy, anyway? Relative to food, it’s something that tastes very good, but also has the meaning of being rare, hard to find. As I’m writing this, a bowl of mixed nuts is open at my desk. There are a few pistachios mingled among the rest of the nuts. Are they a delicacy because they taste good, but I must dig through the container to find them?

Is the Bible a delicacy? It, after all, is the message from the One and Only True and Living God. It also is declared to be figuratively delicious. “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 NKJV).

However, in terms of rareness, over one hundred million copies of it are sold every year. A complete copy, containing the old and new testaments can be purchased brand new for a couple of dollars. I have had a hand in giving away thousands in foreign countries and our own prisons.

We’re always told how wonderfully delicious caviar is, but when I see a picture of the dark goop made from fish eggs, I’m not so sure. Isn’t taste like beauty, in the eyes of the beholder? How many places in our little town of King can you buy a hamburger? At least ten? Why so many? It’s the old supply and demand principle. Demand means desire, desire, desire

Desire is the key in utilizing the grand gift from God of His word. It is said of those words, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold” (Ps. 19:10). “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). The righteous man’s “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:2).

If modern polls are right, people may be buying Bibles, but they’re not reading them. What gives? Is just having a Bible, your ticket into Heaven? Can we add to the excuses people will give to God when He bars them at the gate, “But Lord, I own a Bible!”?

Again, desire is the key. Immerse yourself into the pages of the awe-inspiring word that can save your soul (Romans 1:16). Delight in it completely. It’s not just the double burger; it’s the ice cream dessert, too.

Jeff Greene