Study His Word

by Marvin Bublitz

I have noticed that when many adults draw, their work looks like something a child would do. We shrug it off because not everyone is good at drawing… but I think there may be more involved. Someone was once asked why adult drawings look like they were done by an eight-year-old child. The response has stayed with me: “Because that is when most of us stopped drawing.”

The drawings of many adults look like they were done by a child because that is when most stop drawing. Their skills never improve.

Others continue to draw; we call them artists. We marvel at their work. We admire their dedication.
When we stop doing something, our skill level often freezes in time. Why can a skilled carpenter drive a nail straight in a few hammer blows, but most others need numerous hits and the result is a bent nail? Simple: the carpenter has honed his skill over the years.

The same rule applies to many trades. A bricklayer can build a beautiful wall while a novice has trouble getting the spacing and lines right. A skilled farmer can plough a straight furrow while beginners plough a curvy line. It takes time and effort to develop skills like these.

So, what does this have to do with us in the Church? Well, have you ever heard someone at a church meeting say something that is not in accord with Holy Scripture? Yes, yes, we are all sinners—but there is often more than that at play in these kind of situations.

Ask yourself: how much Bible study have I done beyond confirmation class? Have I attended congregational Bible study? Have I opened my Bible for personal devotions? Have I read or studied any of the Lutheran Confessions?

Hmm. Talk about driving bent nails, ploughing curves, and drawing like a child.

And what about you, pastors? What have you done since seminary days for study? There are many opportunities for continuing education. Do you avail yourself of them?

Hmm. Maybe we all could use some further study and education.

We read in the Psalms: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you” (Psalm 32:8-9). And again: “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).

In Proverbs, we also read: “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:2-7).

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” I hope you take this admonition to heart. Keep learning, that the Lord may increase both your knowledge and understanding. It is His Word that gives us guidance. Therefore, we must study it daily. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

If we all studied Holy Scripture more, our brotherly love would increase. We would have fewer fights and struggles in meetings if we all turned to God’s Word for our guidance. Imagine what debate at a convention would be like if everyone relied on God’s revealed Word to direct our speaking and actions.

This is a hard thing. So, we pray, “Lord, increase our faith.” And faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We study His Word so the Lord may make us wise unto salvation—and wise for life together here in His Holy Church.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:14-17 —

Rev. Marvin Bublitz is Regional Pastor of Lutheran Church–Canada’s East Region.

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