‘And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.’ Luke 8:21
As we meet together let us seek to do exactly that, to ‘hear the Word of God’ as we share it together -and seek to ‘do it’, to obey it and put it into practice in our daily lives. What has the Lord showed you from His Word? The Word tells us that...
‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness’. 2 Timothy 3:16.
So, let us be ‘taught’ by the Word, let us be ‘reproved’ by the Word, let us be ‘corrected’ by the Word and let us be ‘instructed in righteousness’ by the Word as we meet together.
The focus needs to be ‘godly living’
The clear focus of the teachings of scripture can be seen to all point to godly living. ‘Knowledge’ alone, as the Word says, only ‘puffs up’ (1 Cor 8:1 KJV). Literally this means that knowledge alone tends to make us ‘proud’ or ‘haughty’ and inflates our pride and ego. But knowledge, or understanding from a true and balanced understanding of the Word, directs us towards holiness, and this is the only thing that is truly profitable. The reward that the Lord Jesus has promised so clearly to bring with Him (Rev 22:12), for those who are truly part of His family, (i.e. according to Luke 8:21 above) whom He refers to as, His ‘mother’ and His ‘brethren’ –those who ‘obey’ His Word, are for faithfulness –not for ‘knowledge’. True ‘knowledge’ of God equates to a living, personal, day-by-day, and moment-by-moment relationship with the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus. This is, in practical terms, based on the Word of God living and abiding within the heart and mind of the believer. This, indwelling presence of God in our lives will result in a holiness and godliness of character that is a true reflection of that inner presence.
‘This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.’ Joshua 1:8
For the New Testament, New Covenant believer, this practice and habit of meditating in and on the Word of God means an ongoing, deep personal fellowship with He who is the Living Word in the heart and in the mind, the inner being, of every person who has been born again by the Spirit of the Living God. When that is a reality within us ‘fruitfullness’ and ‘faithfullness’ is a natural outcome. It just flows from the indwelling life of Christ within the believer.
Consider this in connection with the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, which bear in mind, in the context, is directly related to the return of Christ, which for us is so immanent. In verses 21 and 23 the servants who received rewards were described by the Lord as ‘good and faithful’. The Lord then says to each of these ‘good’ and ‘faithful’ servants,
‘…thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’
In the light of these thoughts it is salutary to note that three of the four things listed in 2 Timothy 3:16 regarding the focus of true Biblical teaching can all be seen to be directed towards this matter of practical godly and faithful living. They are, ‘Reproof’, ‘correction’ and ‘instruction in righteousness’.
This is shown so clearly in the sixth chapter of Romans where Paul puts it this way,
‘But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.’ Romans 6:22.
True discipleship (being made free from sin and being servants of God) is testified to by bearing ‘fruit unto holiness’ and this alone will result in ‘everlasting life’. Bear in mind, that this is not a matter of earning salvation, or a ‘works based’ faith, but a matter of ‘fruit bearing’ or the ‘outworking’ of the reality within. Let us seek to bring forth this fruit and thereby testify to the truth of John 15:5 and 10. The entire chapter should be read ideally for the focus is so clearly in this area. The Lord Jesus is speaking and He says so clearly,
V5 ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’
V10 ‘If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Let us be faithful to His Word in all we think, speak and do, then we shall ‘abide’ in His love and ‘assure our hearts before Him’ (1 John 3:19)