(2 Tim. 2:15) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

There are many facts to consider on any given subject, such as to the time of the Second Coming of Christ, and on many other Biblically mentioned subjects. But as a Bible student, you must do an independent research, with the Holy Spirit as your Teacher and Guide, and thereby be able to give an answer of the hope that lies within you, according to the Scriptures.

As you study the Bible; it should not be only to defend your position on any given subject, but rather that your position should line up with the Bible. The Bible needs no defending; for it is The Truth. Many students of the Bible use the Bible to back up their own position; when their position should be determined by the facts of the Bible, not built on the opinions of men plus the Bible. Your position must never be built upon what you have been told by men, or because it is a safe position that the majority holds to be truth – but built upon the revelation given to you by the Holy Spirit of God, Who is the Teacher Himself (1 Jn. 2:20, 27).

Bible commentaries, written by men, should serve the primary purpose of causing the Bible student  to have the “Berean spirit” and that is:  (Acts 17:11) “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” It is what the Bible (God) says wherein you have a position, and not what men say; for the Bible is the only pure Truth. (John 8:32) says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This freedom is in Christ and in Him alone. It matters not what doctrine is in debate; the above instruction is sound, and will bring you to the Bible Position.

The Bible Position is your anchor that will never change, or be moved; but will bring you peace and joy as you live by The Faith (Christ, Himself). The Bible student need never fear when error is presented, or when whatever is presented, when the Bible student brings what he hears to the Bible for inspection to see if these things be so; and when the student is rooted and grounded in the Bible, he cannot be drawn away by error. When the student lives in the truth, walks in the truth, uplifts the truth; he need not to argue or debate; for the truth will stand on its own. New ideas presented to the committed Bible student will cause him to search the Bible for the truth with an open mind, to learn more and more truth as he walks his Christian journey.

Never try to study God’s Word with a closed mind; but, always petition the Holy Spirit to teach you truth. Remember the following in your study of the Word of God: Truth revealed to you will always set you apart from the norm and the multitude; and there is a cost to receive and stand for truth (Jn. 15:18-23). But, if the child of God wants Godly success in this world, he must do as God commanded Joshua in (Joshua 1:1-9).

(Jos 1:6-9)  “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.  (7)  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  (8)  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  (9)  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

The key words in this passage of Scripture are: observe to do; turn not from it; the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; meditate therein day and night; and then the results will be, “thy way prosperous”; “shalt have good success.” The words “meditate therein day and night” focus on the subject of this devotion. The Bible student must “meditate” in God’s Word, and not in man’s opinion, to be revealed pure truth.

Truly, God’s called and ordained men are to interpret the Word of God and preach truth to their listeners (Eph. 4:12-16). However, these men are not to add to, or to take away from, the Word of God to have men to come to their own positions when their positions are contrary to truth. The man of God should always direct his listeners to the Word of God, and only teach and preach what the Word of God says, even if they cannot explain or interpret any given Scripture. A warning should go to the active men of God that have listeners; that they give all diligence before they present their message; to go before God in prayer petitioning the Holy Spirit to teach them truth, and to confirm their message in the Written Word of God (2 Cor. 13:1), before they preach their message to their listeners. Those that teach and preach the Word of God to listeners have an awesome responsibility as they have been commissioned to represent God to the listener.

Every child of God owes it to himself to know for certain that what he or she believes about the Doctrine of Christ is not based on personal opinion, but based completely on the Word of God; no matter where the multitudes or the majority stands; no matter the cost for standing for truth.