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Bible Study - My Spiritual Barometer

As a Christian of some 30 plus years, my spiritual condition has varied from time to time. Since my conversion, I've always been assured of "no condemnation" being in Christ Jesus according to Romans 8:1 and in being "more than conquerors" through Him (vs. 37). But there have been times where I have struggled with temptation and obedience to God's commands more than others. In those moments, the words of a pastor and friend from a few years back always come to me. He would ask me when I would share about my struggles, "How's your Bible study?". He instilled in me a vital principle to holy living that was linked to my personal Bible study. I learned from him that quality time of reading, meditating and application of the Bible - quality Bible study - was so important to being an "overcomer". Through this practice, the Words of God would become a weapon that the Holy Spirit could use in my life to help me resist temptation or to face a time of spiritual struggle.

I am indeed thankful for the "easy to read" versions of the Bible we have today and the great access we have in America to the printed and electronic Word that make Bible study easier and more convenient. But I've come to realize first hand that we need to daily feast upon the Bible in order to have the strength we need to live for Him. This takes more than what we consider normal Bible study or reading a passage or two - it takes digging deep into the words we read and using tools like those from Logos to hear what faithful men and women of Christ have learned in their own lives about that passage through their own Bible study, what the original writer's meant out of their own experience and personally questioning it's application to our lives as we live them out day to day. Just as we need a balanced diet of vitamins and minerals for physical strength, we need daily quality Bible study or the intake of God’s Word for spiritual strength. What should you do when you struggle with the issues of life today? Check your spiritual barometer – how’s your Bible study been lately?

Submitted by Kenneth Ray Fuller