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 Scripture for the day: John 12:49-50 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak. Thought for the day: The seasoned old preacher sat in a chair on the platform, awaiting his time to speak. As he waited, he shuffled through his notes once again, clearly organizing his thoughts for the upcoming message. Next to him sat a young man, new to the ministry of preaching. He looked about the room, never once glancing at his Bible. He had no notes to re-check. After a few moments the young man turned to the man next to him, watching for a bit before speaking. “I see you have quite a few notes there. I never use notes. In fact, I never study; not really. I rely on that scripture that says we ought not to worry about what we’re going to say. We’re supposed to just open our mouth and the Spirit will give us what to say.” The old preacher stared. “Really? You never study the Word so as to get its meaning?” “Oh, no; there’s no need for all that extra work.” Nodding, the old man replied, “I tried that once. I didn’t study or even read. When I got to the platform, I said to the Lord, ‘Spirit of God, give me a message.’” “And did the Spirit speak to you?” “Yeah, He did. He said, ‘Smith, you’re an idiot!’” My friends, in the life of the Christian, there is no excuse for not reading and studying the Bible. The Spirit speaks through study and meditation, without doubt. The written Word of God is His method for teaching, exhorting, and feeding His flock. As a believer, each of us is enrolled in the divine school of obedience, and in that school there is only one text-book; the Bible. Jesus used it every moment of every day. “It is written.” “It is written.” “It is written.” Three times He quoted the scriptures, using them to defeat His enemy, Satan. Time after time, He quoted scripture in teaching others. Time after time He took time to explain how the scriptures were to be applied in the life of the believer. If it was good enough for Him, it ought to be good enough for you and me. This one thing we must learn, if we are to advance in God’s school of obedience: “Scripture was not written to increase our knowledge but to guide our conduct; ‘that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’”1 We study the scriptures so that we might know what to do. With each step of obedience to the Word that we take, we find more that illuminates our pathway. Until we take that next step, we are condemned to remain in the dark. We can love studying the Bible. We may come to know more of its contents than any of our peers. We may even be deeply inspired by the truths we find in the Word of truth. Until we allow the Holy Spirit to show us how those truths are to be worked out in our lives, we have not gotten further than a simple head knowledge, as extensive as that may be. Only as we allow the Savior, through the Holy Spirit, to impress the importance of His Word on our hearts can we hope to grasp the joy of obedience to that Word. Remember, don’t worry about all you don’t understand. Be obedient to what you do understand and, when you need more, the Holy Spirit will provide every insight you need. Now go take on your world. - Bill 1. “School of Obedience,” Andrew Murray. Wilder Pub., 2008 (originally published, 1898).