"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Word of God is a very powerful resource for our lives. It is able to help us live Godly lives that abound in good works to the glory of the Father. It is also able to equip us and prepare us for every challenge that will come our way as we pursue Christ.
Be that as it may, many Christians don't apply the Word of God in their lives. Because of this, they miss out on the many wonders that the Word of God brings to the lives of those who obey it.
The Lord Jesus Himself said, according to Luke 11:28, "blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" If we want to be blessed with that blessing, we've got to hear the Word and obey it.
Applying God's Word to you
In this article we'll take a look at a few ways we apply God's Word in our lives. Hearing it is not enough; we've got to obey it. James 1:22-25 tells us,
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."
And so here are a few ways we get to apply God's Word in our lives.
1) Look for the lessons and instructions
The Bible is chock-full of lessons and instructions for all of us to heed. Many of these will actually change our lives if we listen to them and obey them. They're that powerful.
When reading Scripture, look for lessons. Read between the lines. Try to extract the lessons. For example, don't read the story of Joseph as if it were some story told to kids -- it's actually a powerful lesson on humility, integrity, forgiveness, and the favor of God!
Like treasure hunters, let's look for these lessons of gold in the vast fields of God's Word.
2) Search for corrections and rebukes
There will be times when reading the Bible will hurt. This is because it will rebuke us of our sins and correct us so that we can go into the right path. This is very important.
The Bible tells us that God disciplines those He loves (see Proverbs 3:12). He will confront us of our sin and rebuke us, so that we can repent and be restored. He wants us holy like He is.
As such, don't be afraid of the rebukes that Scripture may bring. We should read its words and evaluate ourselves in light of what it says. This will help us become increasingly Christ-like.
3) Obey its commands and teachings
The Bible contains commands and instructions that we should obey. Obedience to God's Word is very, very important. He loves to reward those who obey Him (see Proverbs 16:20; Ephesians 6:8).
We must receive God's instructions and obey them. If we want to enjoy the benefits of God's Word, there's no better way than to obey it.
