How Can I Change? Scripture pt 2

Part of the “How Can I Change?” series. See parts onetwothreefourfivesixseven, eight, nine, and ten.Part 2 of a guest post by Joshua De Leon.

Immersing Ourselves in Truth, Part 2

 

Reading the Bible will not change you! It is God’s grace that transforms you when you immerse yourself in the truth of God’s Word! Maybe you’ve tried to get into God’s Word, but don’t know how. Maybe it seems pointless or passionless. How do we immerse ourselves in God’s Word? The answer is found in James 1:22-25.

James 1:22-25 –22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

 

What is the passage saying?

  1. By remembering God’s Word (v.24) How often do we read the Bible and forget what we read?
  2. By examining God’s Word (v.25) “intently” literally means “to stoop and examine”
  3. By practicing God’s Word (v.22, 25) Being “doers” of the Word implies living what we learn.

 

How is this connected to Grace?

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.) As you expose yourself to God’s Word intentionally, you open yourself up to receive the powerful transforming grace of God. It’s like placing yourself in front of the Hoover Dam and opening the gates.

 

What Steps Can I Take?

1. Memorize God’s Word (Psalm 119:11) How do we do this? Have a plan. Write out verses. Draw pictures. Memorize word for word. Be accountable.

2. Meditate on God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-2 – 1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.”) Meditation – We think of meditation as being cultish or a kind of transcendental religious activity, but it is not. It is not about emptying your mind but filling it with truth; not passively involved in shallow introspection but actively engaging in deep reflection. Reread it. Repeat it. Write it. Pray it.

3. Apply God’s Word (John 13:17 – “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”) Easy to understand. Difficult to carry out accurately.

 

What does this look like?

  • A life that obtains victory over sin – Psalm 119:11
  • A life that carefully follows God – Joshua 1:8
  • A life that experiences blessing – James 1:25

But…

>>What if I don’t see change? Growth takes time. Becoming like Christ is the goal.

>>What if I don’t desire/feel like reading the Bible? Have you ever not felt hungry at dinner time for food? You still need to eat food. Read the Bible not because you feel you want it but because you know you need it!

 

Resources:

Mahaney, C.J., and Rovin Boisvert. “Chapter Five: Tools of the Trade (1).” In How Can I Change?: Victory in the Struggle Against Sin, edited by Greg Somerville, 53–68. The Pursuit of Godliness. Gaithersburg, Maryland: Sovereign Grace Ministries, 1993.
Piper, John. “Some Proven Weapons in the Fight for Holiness.” Desiring God.
Whitney, Donald S. “Chapter Three: Bible Intake (Part 2).” In Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 41–64. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997.
Whitney, Donald S. “The Sinkhole Syndrome by Donald Whitney.” Ligonier.org.