As I thought about what this looks like for me, and how to share it with others, God placed a couple of thoughts at the forefront of my mind. One thought was “If you only understand bits and pieces of God’s Word, don’t be surprised when you go through life receiving only bits and pieces of blessings.” I thought okay well that sounds harsh, but it makes sense. Then I felt like it was quite overwhelming. Even with as much as I have learned, I still only understand bits and pieces of the Bible. I expect to spend the rest of my life learning and growing in God’s Word, and still may understand only bits and pieces.
I needed God to provide clarification. What I received was Matthew 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I realized that what God was saying to me is that it is not about knowing everything. It’s about obedience in seeking Him and allowing Him to teach me everything that He needs me to know for the work that He has put me here to do. He didn’t put me here to know and do it all. He put me here to seek Him and to live according to His will.
The “bits and pieces” are the verses or partial verses of scripture that we go around quoting, many times incorrectly and without fully understanding what God’s Word truly says and what it means. I have a magnet that says, “Even when you don’t see it, God is working things out for your good.” Below that it says “Romans 8:28.” That could lead someone who does not know God’s Word to believe that this is the entire scripture and that regardless of what they do or don’t do, God is working things out for them.
We need to go to the Bible and read what the entire verse says. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” Understanding that verse alone is a game changer. We have no true claim to that blessing if we have not accepted the call to live according to His purpose. God loves us and wants to pour out an abundance of blessings on us but don’t get it twisted. He created us for a purpose, and we have work to do.
The next step may be to read the entire chapter, then the entire book of Romans. In addition to reading, we must study. So, for example, if you read Romans 8:28 and don’t understand fully what it means regarding those who are called according to His purpose, you can research to learn more. There are so many resources out there. I’ve also provided a Bible study guide on my Resources page that you can use if you would like.
Because there is so much information out there, I must note that it is extremely important that anything you hear from another place must line up with God’s Word. That includes anything you read or hear from me. Your relationship with your Father God is personal. He is no closer to any other human being than He is to you. Please do not assume or trust that everything you hear from someone who seems to have more knowledge of God’s Word is pointing you in the right direction. As you study, you must be in constant communication with God and only follow the Holy Spirit who will never lead you wrong.
Another thought that God placed on my heart was a question. If you don’t understand what you have at your disposal, how can you have any expectation to live in victory? Only God’s Word can show you. In his sermon series The Law of Righteousness, Pastor Tony Scott says that the purpose of God’s written Word is to move us into a realm of faith where our daily walk is filled with a manifestation of His life and power. He also reminds us that God is willing to pour as much of His nature into us as we are willing to receive. There’s so much that God wants to reveal to us, but we must first seek Him. Consistently.
If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of trying to read and understand the Bible, I get it. There is no need to feel pressure to read so many chapters per day, read the entire Bible in a year, or anything like that. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide. Some days you may study a verse, other days a chapter, and some other days an entire book of the Bible. One of the easiest ways to get started is by using a daily devotional and studying the scriptures referenced there.
If you are thinking you don’t have time, consider how true that really is. We all have busy seasons in life. If you only have 10 minutes per day of quiet time to sit and study, it is better than nothing at all. Instead of reading an entire chapter, read a section of a chapter. Then go to God and see what He wants to reveal to you. If you need to study that section for a few days, it’s okay. It’s not a race. God is interested in your obedience. If you want your day to be filled with grace, try putting God first no matter how much time you think you don’t have – believe it or not He redeems time for you. Seek Him daily and He will show you. Psalm 90:14 says, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” I can’t think of a better way to start the day.
I was hoping to have a great metaphor or a reference regarding my love of unicorns to share so I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you. God placed the word “simplicity” on my heart as I share with you about listening, talking, reading, and obedience. I hope that this post has been helpful in some way. If by any chance you’re of the generation that watched Reading Rainbow as a child, you may remember that LeVar Burton would say “But you don’t have to take my word for it.” I’ll say the same to you. Read God’s Word and see for yourself. You don’t have to take my word for it.
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