Innocence to Evil

Knowledge of the Word of God keeps us in the truth and away from deceit. How important is reading the Word of God and studying it? Some people exchange the reading of the Bible to viewing or listening to sermons and exhortations on TV or in YouTube. Is this wrong? No, it is not. But the personal study of God’s Word should never be missed. You learn a lot from hearing of the Word on TV or in the internet, but you will also learn in a more personal level when you take it directly from the Bible through regular study. Take for example, you are a college or high school student. How do you learn the lessons? It is not enough that you attend the class and listen to the teacher. You have to read, study, and research things by yourself too. You may have gone through your schooling without the discipline of studying but you will later realize that your knowledge comes short unless you delve into reading and daily study. It is part of your discipline as a student to succeed. Even when you graduate and acquire jobs, the same thing is required. You need to study what you do and plan on how you will do it in any vocation you are in. In the same manner, Christian living requires discipline. This includes the discipline of setting a daily time to study the Word of God, the Bible. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” -Joshua 1:8. Knowledge of God’s Word will not easily cause us to be blinded or deceived by teachings that run contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ. This is what Paul was telling the Christians in Rome. False teachers are very good at attracting and persuading Christians to be disuaded from their belief in Jesus. Paul asked them to be very careful of false teachers and false teachings. As a follower of Jesus, you have to guard your faith and stand firm in it by consisted study of His Word.

Meditating on God’s Word gives you wisdom of what is good and right. “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 3:16-17. To be wise of what is good, a believer should know and take to heart the Word of God. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” -Colossians 3:16. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;” -Psalm 19:7.

Meditating on God’s Word enables you to be innocent of evil. Paul reminded the Christians in Rome to “be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” (Romans 16:19). Innocent in this verse is the Greek term akeraios which is the word for pure or umixed with evil. To be innocent, therefore, is to be pure. As believer of Jesus Christ, you should not be tainted with any form of evil. The thoughts and intentions should be pure. The Word of God keeps you pure. When you daily feed on it, it directs your steps in life and leads you to what is good and pleasing to the Lord. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. “ -Psalm 119:105. It purifies, clarifies, and exposes your motives and intentions.“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” -Hebrews 4:12. When you obey God’s Word, your way is blessed. “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” -Luke 11:28.