I rejoiced when adult coloring books became
popular. It satisfied both my obsession
with office supplies (in this case, colored pencils) and my structured need to
color inside the lines.
Precept upon Precept studies appeal to me for the same
reason. If you are not familiar with
those, they use inductive Bible study by marking Scripture to examine it in
context as well as to peel apart the layers to get deeper. I enjoy sitting down with the observation
sheets (the Scripture printed double-spaced so you can mark it up) and using my
colored pencils to mark key words and phrases.
Our Sunday school class is starting the Precept study
on Philippians and I find that I cannot wait to sit down and study every
day. Which is strange because sometimes
I have to pretty well chain myself to the table to do Bible study. And I was wondering, “What is the difference?”
Unfortunately, I figured it out and, as usual, I came
out looking not so good. I love doing
the Precept study because so much of it depends on me. It’s true I get basically nowhere without the
help of the Holy Spirit, but there are “steps” I can take to move me
forward. When I sit down to simply read and
study the Bible, I am hanging out there…totally dependent on God and His Spirit
to guide me, give me understanding, and speak to me.
And I find myself in the same old predicament. Is there nothing I can do? No way to “earn” this? Because isn’t that the tough part for us all? The whole setting pride aside to admit we
have nothing to offer God but a relationship of love and trust. And He always comes through for us, doesn’t
He? Why can’t I trust Him enough to
believe He will speak to me through His Word?
In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he
lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the
mystery of his will according to his good pleasure…My goal is that they may be
encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches
of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God,
namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Ephesians 1:7-9; Colossians 2:2-3
