Getting Updates

Getting Updates

2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version)
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Anyone who works with computers knows that the computer has to be updated from time to time in order to function properly. The designers of the computers know that they will be learning more and more about ways to make the programs function more efficiently. These updates are a free and expected benefit and obligation involved in the use of computers.

Most users set their computers to automatically accept new updates. Those with more savvy in working with computers may choose to selectively decide which updates to install.

When we accept Christ into our lives we are like brand new computers. We function at lightening fast speed, we are open for massive input of information. We have expansive unused space to receive The Word on our “hard drives”.

Do we keep that high level of functioning over the months and years? Are we as hungry for data, for input as we were in the early days of our acceptance into the Body of Christ?

The bible is clear, from the old testament to the new, that we have an obligation to study the word of God, to continue getting updates. Some examples are:

Joshua 1:8 (New International Version)
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

When we stay immersed in God’s Word we begin to understand that it is not natural knowledge that we seek but wisdom guided by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (New International Version)
Wisdom From the Spirit
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"
10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
16"For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

We must continue to seek God’s wisdom for our lives. We must be willing to put in the time to receive what God has so freely given us.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (New International Version)
23 This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.

It is my desire to be one of those in whom the Lord delights.

I always like to share good resources when I find them. There is a wonderful and simple “guide to studying the bible” at http://bible.org/article/studying-scriptures. It is not the be all and end all, but it is a good organizer for those who need help in developing a plan of “updating”.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!