“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.” Prov 4:5 (NIV) We know more than we obey. Wisdom is to know and comprehend. Understanding is to apply what we know and comprehend. Application of God’s Word indicates fullness in Christ. Just as a treadmill will not benefit your health unless you get on it and use it, God’s Word will not bring understanding until you apply it. Application leads to clarification, maturation, and transformation. Wisdom and understanding become evidenced through application. Put God’s Word and God’s wisdom into practice. Where do you start? You start by reading God’s Word. Next, you meditate on God’s Word. Then, you apply God’s Word. Instead of leaning on your own understanding, trust in the Lord and acknowledge His ways (Prv. 3:5-6). Instead of swerving from God’s Word, get His wisdom and His understanding (Prv. 4:5). Instead of coasting through life, diligently get understanding (Prv. 4:7). Obey what you know! Apply what God has spoken into your life with understanding! Walk in the light God gives you! The adventure continues as you walk with God and entrust your life to His care. God has special plans for you that will bring you into a closer relationship with Him. You will need God’s wisdom and understanding to participate with Him in His agenda. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Category: Application
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 3:14-15 (NIV) What have you learned? Life is full of lessons. If you had only one month to live, how would you apply what you have learned up to this point in your life? Think about your exposure to God’s Word and the verses you have memorized. Think about how much you have fed on God’s Word and sought to apply the principles from the Bible. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in what he had learned from infancy from constant exposure to the holy Scriptures. Feeding on God’s Word is to be our continual practice and our consistent discipline. Yet, it is not enough to just read the Bible, we must apply God’s Word in daily living. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.” Psalms 89:15 (NIV) “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Phil 4:9 (NIV) Maybe a good start for you would be to commit to read through the Bible in one year. If you will read four chapters each day, you will cross the finish line in 365 days. Daily intake and application of God’s Word will enable your dash to make a Kingdom splash. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV) Information and examination without application will lead to frustration. God wants you to look intently into His Word. Pour your life into the reading and studying of God’s Word. Don’t neglect the discipline of investigation. Dive deep into God’s Word. Be sure to come out of investigation with application. Personalize God’s Word by asking: So what? Now what? God reveals Himself to you through His Word so that you will do what He says. God reveals His heart and His agenda so that you can literally put feet to the faith God imparts. Move from being a hearer of the Word only, to being a doer of the Word. Activate God’s Word in your life through practical living. Put God’s Word into practice. Start with loving God with all of your heart, mind, and strength. Launch into loving your neighbor as yourself. Begin forgiving others as God has forgiven you. Passionately serve others as Christ modeled faithfully. Be merciful. Be compassionate. Be gentle. Be faithful. Be considerate. Be patient. Just do what God says! Move from information to examination and then to application. There’s another level that has eternal implications. Are you ready to go to the next level? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor