Verse of the Day 11/6

Verse of the Day 11/6

2 Timothy 2:15-16

New International Version

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

In recent posts we've considered how "the word of God is living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) and that the word of God "is like a hammer" (Jeremiah 23:29), each paints a picture of power and usefulness. Many of us use tools regularly, around the house and perhaps at work. Tools have their intended purpose but should be used for what they were designed for, their intended purpose.

I leaned today's verses in AWANA Clubs as a child, in the King James Version which states, "rightly dividing the word of truth".  The literal translation could be "cutting straight", picture using a table saw and then using a plane, when used with the intended purpose, help to form wood into a table, cabinet or other useful and even beautiful object.

We have the Word of God available to us, but how and when do we use it. It can be used wrongly, to put someone down even demoralize someone.  When used like that we are not cutting straight.  We should take take to use it to honor God and to bring help to those who need it.

Notice that the verse begins with "do your best".  Pastor Ray Ortlund writes illustrates what this looks like:

Do your best — An all-out effort measured by who you are, not by who you are not and can never be. But by God's grace you can do your best with who you are.

to present yourself — He may put you before masses, or he may put you before a few. But you are available to him for whatever role he thinks is most strategic for the redemption of the world in your generation. You are "ready for every good work" (verse 21).

to God — Not to people, primarily, but to God, who knows quality work when he sees it.

as one approved — By God's standards, which will wonderfully satisfy your own conscience, though your divinely approved work will inevitably dissatisfy some people.

a worker — Not a big talker, not a dreamer, not a theorist, but a lover of solid accomplishment.

who has no need to be ashamed — The closer his work is inspected, the better it gets. There is nothing hidden, except even deeper quality.

rightly handling the word of truth — Do not swerve from the truth (verse 18) for petty quarrels about words (verse 14) or irreverent babble (verse 16). Stay centered in hyper-focus on the "of first importance" gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-5), and tell it to them straight: industrial-strength grace pouring out on extreme sinners through the finished work of Christ on the cross and the endless power of the Holy Spirit.

May it encourage us to do our best to "correctly handle" the Word of truth, the Bible.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

2 Timothy 2:14-19

New King James Version

Approved and Disapproved Workers

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."