It is of vital importance to our spiritual improvement that we consider well in what manner we may best reduce our knowledge of the Scriptures to practice. For if practice be added to the study of the Scriptures, our spiritual understanding of them will be increased, and rendered progressively more pleasant and satisfying.
Jesus, while teaching in the temple at the feast of tabernacles, in answer to the question of the Jews, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" answered, "If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God, or whether I speak from myself." Therefore, the practice of the knowledge of the word of God is the chief end for which it was revealed. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and do our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
And all Scripture is declared to be profitable for practical purposes, that the Christian may be completely furnished unto every good work. And also whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.
And if our knowledge of the Scriptures does not influence our conduct, it is a manifest indication that our knowledge is not right, or has not taken a deep hold upon the mind, for the evidence of the soundness of our knowledge consists in the fact that it constrains one to keep the commandments of Christ. And a conscientious obedience shows that the apprehension and knowledge of the truth of God is graciously impressed on the soul.
The simplest practical application of the Scriptures is the most profitable. But perhaps a few suggestions here may be consulted with advantage.
1. The study of the Scriptures with a view to personal application, should be done with a pure intention. The scribes and Pharisees searched the Scriptures, but derived no spiritual benefit from them, because they thought they had eternal life, when in fact they were destitute of it, and would not come to Christ, nor believe in him, that they might have it.
The Old Testament Scriptures testified of the Messiah, and the Jews were critical in the study of those passages that referred to him, but were careless as to the practical application of them.
The Spirit of Christ in the prophets testified beforehand concerning the time of his appearing, and of his sufferings, and of the glories that should follow them.
We must search the Scriptures, and may hope to find eternal life in the search, because they testify of Christ; for this is the witness, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. But in the study of them we must exercise a watchful care over the mind, lest we read merely for entertainment, or to pass the time, or to discharge a merely external duty, or to appease conscience. All such study is deficient in motive, by which we may expect to derive from it either advantage or comfort amid the trials of life. Nor will it be sufficient to secure the end for which divine revelation was given, if we read the Scriptures with the mere desire to become familiar with them, that we may show our acquaintance with them, but no intention to become spiritually wiser that we may become practically better, and by the assistance of divine grace may root out sin, and plant the seeds of truth and love to God and men.—Lutheran Observer.