Habits for a Successful New Year - Bible Study [1/3]

Matthew Bohin, Seminary Student

We often look at successful people and wonder how they’ve achieved their notoriety, influence, or wealth. We devour their blogs, books, and articles to get a glimpse into their “secret” of success.
 
Paul’s Desire
 
In the Christian world, Paul was arguably the greatest Apostle. Paul authored at least thirteen books of the New Testament, established many churches, journeyed throughout Asia and Europe as the Apostle to the Gentiles, and even encountered the risen Christ. Yet, these accolades paled in comparison to his main desire: to know Christ and to be like him.
 
Paul describes the one driving principle of his life this way: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8, 13-14). Here, Paul states that all his accomplishments, both the spiritual accolades he once possessed in Judaism along with his accomplishments in service for Christ, weren’t of the same value as knowing and being like Christ. To Paul, knowing Christ held “surpassing worth.” Having a deep, close, and personal walk with Jesus, even after he had seen the risen Christ, was of utmost importance to Paul. Moreover, he saw Christlikeness as a “prize” to be obtained. The phrase, “upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” refers to a believer’s glorification. However, Paul knew that while on earth, he was daily to strive to be like Christ.
 
Paul therefore viewed knowing God as having the utmost worth, while being like Christ as a prize to be cherished.
 
Making Paul’s Desire Our Own
 
How then did Paul come to this mindset? What value did Paul see in knowing Christ and being like him? He understood three essential truths about knowing God and being like him.

• The purpose of our salvation is to know God. Jesus says that we as believers are saved in order to know God. He states, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17.3). We are saved in order to know God.

• Knowing God is the key to Christian growth. In Colossians 3.10, Paul writes that we “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” All Christian growth is directly linked to knowing God. Take for instance a puzzle. A puzzle comes with an image on the box by which all the pieces connect to create. We connect pieces of a puzzle together because we know the image it represents. Likewise, if we fail to know what God is like as revealed in his Son, we will fail to accurately grow in Christian maturity.

• Knowing God is the key to Christian fellowship and joy. John writes, “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1.3-4). John shows that a vital connection exists between fellowship amongst believers and fellowship amongst the believer and God. The healthier the Godward relationship between a believer and God, the healthier the relationships between believers. Moreover, John demonstrates that the result of these healthy relationships results in immense joy. Knowing God brings both healthy fellowship and unimaginable joy. 

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But This Takes Work…
 
Like any relationship, knowing God takes work. I’ve been married about five months. For those of you who don’t know yet, marriage takes work. Yes, marriage is wonderful, but the blessings of marriage don’t come without putting in effort.
 
Likewise, we want to think that a relationship with God comes easily. We would love to think that God just instantly makes us know him. Think with me again about marriage, however. If, while we were dating, my wife put in time, effort, and energy into our relationship, yet I didn’t make an effort to take her on dates, call her when we were separated, or buy her gifts, she would eventually stop pouring into the relationship. Now, this illustration does break down eventually. Theologically speaking God does pursue believers even when we don’t naturally desire him. However, Scripture is clear that God reveals himself to those who diligently seek him (Deuteronomy 4:29, Hebrews 11:6).
 
Does your Bible smell like the gym? Does it smell of hard work or sweat? Is it soiled with tears, highlights, or crinkles due to the use it’s received? Knowing God takes work.
 
… And a Soft Heart
 
At the same time, knowing God also demands a soft heart. God reveals himself not only to those who diligently seek him, but to those who come submitted to him. In James 4:6, James exhorts us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Earlier in the same book, he states that God indeed does give wisdom liberally, but only to those who are of a mind totally committed to him (James 1:5-8).
 
God pours himself out to those who diligently pursue him and approach him with a humble, submissive spirit.
 
Let’s Get Practical
 
By now I hope you’ve all come to understand that knowing God is the reason why we’re saved. God has called us into a relationship with him. This relationship then drives us to become more like Christ. Even as Christians we don’t naturally have a relationship with God or a Christlike disposition. As stated above, it takes work along with a soft heart. I would like to provide for you some practical ways of putting in the hard work of pursuing God through Scripture.
 
Just like any job you undertake, you need the right tools for Bible study. These include having the right resources, the right plan, and the right questions.

• ​The right resources. In order to properly understand Scripture, you need to use a good, understandable, and accurate translation. Many modern translations that are accurate and readable include the ESV, NASB, CSB, and NIV. Having a good study Bible also enhances your understanding of Scripture. Three that I often recommend include the ESV Study Bible (Crossway), the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (Zondervan), and the MacArthur Study Bible (Various Publishers). Along with these study Bibles, devotional commentaries are extremely helpful in understanding word meanings or the development of a passage. Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series along with the Bible Knowledge Commentary (Victor Books) are great introductory level commentaries for devotional aide. Finally, take some time to listen to pastors and teachers preach through a passage. Sermonaudio.com provides biblically based sermons on almost all passages in the Bible. Along with these aides, you may want to consider a journal to write down your thoughts.

• The right plan. Many Bible reading plans exist. Knowing where to start can be confusing. In my own personal time with God, I do two types of Bible study. I read for both breadth and depth. Reading for breadth involves reading a number of chapters at a time in order to get the big picture of Scripture. For example, I’m currently working through Paul’s Epistles, attempting to read one, or at least half of one, each day. On the other hand, reading for depth includes going through an individual book slowly. Here, you try to trace the arguments, themes, and big concepts. As an example, I recently completed a study through Malachi which took a number of weeks. Include both types of reading into your devotional life. For those of you who have never had a consistent devotional life, reading a chapter a day may be a good goal. Begin your reading in a book such as Proverbs, John, or James.

• The right questions. As you read, take the time to ask questions of the passage. What is the context of the passage? Who wrote the book and to whom? Why was the book written? What are some words I don’t understand? What does this passage teach me about God? What does this passage say about sin or things I need to change? These questions help guide your thoughts, worship, and application when approaching Scripture.

 
A Final Reminder
 
I hope these brief words of wisdom have helped to create in you a desire to be in Scripture this new year. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention one thing. In all of our Bible study, we are dependent upon the Spirit for help. None of us naturally understands the things of God. Without the guidance of the Spirit, all of our efforts to know God would be in vain (1 Corinthians 2:12-16).
 
This year, pursue God with everything you have. He wants to be known, and he is waiting to reveal himself to you.