Chapter 18
Chapter 18
1Have for constant use a reference Bible, a concordance, and a topical Bible.
2. Always carry a Bible or New Testament in your pocket, and do not be ashamed of people seeing you read it.
3. Do not be afraid of marking it or of making marginal notes. Mark texts that contain promises, exhortations, warnings to sinners and to Christians, gospel invitations to the unconverted, and so on.
4. Set apart at least fifteen minutes a day or more for study and meditation. This will have great results and will never be regretted.
5. Prepare your heart to know the law of the Lord, and to do it. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel (Ezra 7:10).
6. Always ask God to open the eyes of your understanding that you may see the truth, and expect that He will answer your prayer.
7. Cast every burden of doubt upon the Lord. Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (Psalm 55:22). Do not be afraid to look for a reason for the hope that is in you. But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15).
8. Believe in the Bible as God’s revelation to you, and act accordingly. Do not reject any portion because it contains the supernatural or because you cannot understand it. Reverence all Scripture. Remember how highly God views it.
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:7-10)
9. Learn at least one verse of Scripture each day. Verses committed to memory will be wonderfully useful in your daily life and walk. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Some Christians can quote sports statistics or the songs of the world better than they can quote the Bible.
10. If you are a preacher or a Sunday school teacher, try at any cost to master your Bible. You ought to know it better than anyone in your congregation or class.
11. Strive to be exact in quoting Scripture.
12. Adopt some systematic plan of Bible study: either topical or by subjects, like “The Blood,” “Prayer,” “Hope,” or by books of the Bible, or by some other plan outhned in the preceding pages.
13. Study to know for what and to whom each book of the Bible was written. Combine the Old Testament with the New. Study Hebrews and Leviticus together, the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles, the prophets and the historical books of the Old Testament.
14. Study how to use the Bible so as to walk with God in closer communion. Also, study so as to gain a working knowledge of Scripture for leading others to Christ. An old minister used to say that the cries of neglected texts were always sounding in his ears, asking why he did not show how important they were.
15. Do not be satisfied with simply reading a chapter daily. Study the meaning of at least one verse.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)