What it Really Means to Grow in the Word

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. - Colossians 3:16

While studying in the Holy Land, a seminary professor met a man who claimed to have memorized the entire Old Testament in Hebrew. So the professor asked the man if he could give a demonstration. The man agreed, and the two met at the man’s home.

The professor took out his Hebrew Old Testament as the man asked, “Where shall we begin?”

“Psalm 1,” replied the professor, who was an avid student of the Psalms. And beginning with Psalm 1, the man began to recite from memory while the professor followed along. For two hours, the man continued without a single mistake as the professor sat stunned.

When the demonstration was over, the professor discovered something even more shocking about the man. He wasn’t a Jew nor a Christian, but an atheist. He knew the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet they had done nothing to change his life because he simply didn’t believe them.

Knowledge of God doesn’t always lead to maturity in the faith. In fact, there are countless people who know the Scriptures up and down yet simply don’t apply them to their lives. But the person who knows one verse and applies it is more spiritually mature than the one who knows many and applies none.

Yes, know the Bible. But more importantly, apply it to your life. That’s what it means to be mature in the Word of God!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would help you take His Word and apply it to your daily life.

Questions for Thought

Think of a time when you knew the biblical response to a situation, but you did something different. What caused you to go your own way?

When it comes to the Word of God, how can you bridge the gap between simply knowing it and really applying it to your life?

Hops of Faith

by Doug Hall

Today's Bible Verse... 

But he [Jesus] said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."    —Luke 4:43

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

When you think about the large cities of our modern world, what do you think about? Jesus sees them, and passionately yearns for the lost people in those great cities to be saved!

My Prayer...

Most holy and loving God, revive in us, your Church, a passion to reach the lost people of the world's great cities with the gospel and grace of your Son. In the name of the world's only true Lord and Savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

Today's Verse Illustrated