Look It Up
2 Timothy 2:14-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 Remind [the people] of these facts and [solemnly] charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers. 15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. 16 But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.
When my brother and I were growing up, the one thing we could count on if we asked either of our parents for help, before attempting to find the answer ourselves is that we would promptly be asked “Did you look it up?” It was almost a game, to go to them first to see if they would break their pattern of behavior, or would they consistently steer us to search and study for ourselves first before asking for assistance. My children can safely say that this was passed on in my technique of child rearing and my mother’s students have also known that this is what they would receive as well. My parents believed that is was important not to give the answers but to inspire a study ethic in us, in order for us to understand that everything is work, and the knowledge that we sought was present we only needed to look it up, search it out, or do a little investigation, and apply some effort to obtain it.
I have come to find out as I have taught over the years in different arenas and been in several different learning environments, that we want to learn and to obtain information, but it is what we are spoon fed that we seem to enjoy the most, because we can gain what we think is just enough information without much studying, searching or effort. But to really understand the particulars of a subject, to understand the cause and affect you have to dig a little deeper than what is on the surface, or what one person may give you. To understand the Word of God, the requirements of God and even the blessings of God, it is impossible to just study one scripture, one portion of the Bible or one book and have all that you need to know about God and who He is to us, for us, in us and with us. God is so vast and what He possesses is as vast, His love towards us is insurmountable, and His mercy is ever lasting, His blessings can carry us from the pit to the palace and His anointing cultivated, believed and yielded can heal the sick and raise the dead. Knowing God is no fly by night experience or what my young people like to call a “bird course.” Knowing the will of God for our lives and how He feels about us requires us to look it up, search the pages of His manual to learn. It is great, when we hear the word, but I cannot tell you the amount of times I have heard people misuse, misquote, and misexplain the Word of God, that is why we are instructed to study and know the word for ourselves, and to God and work out our own salvation; hearing the word should confirm, the things we have been seeking God for and studying.
When we desire to really know God we will seek after Him, be in search of Him and look Him up. I heard someone say recently to be relevant you have to have receipts, and you have to at least have a Wikipedia page. Well God has plenty of receipts, He has not just Spiritual credibility but He has street credibility and He has validated Himself in areas that no human can lay claim to. If you want the facts on Him, yes they are on Wikipedia, but more importantly, He graciously laid them out in His word, known as the Holy Bible, which is the indisputable truth of who He is. But to just look at one part, one passage of one aspect you are missing the fullness of who He is and who He could be in your lives. Look Him up and then really look into Him. Learn of Him, and seek to know not just of Him, but to really know the depth of who He is. Focusing and applying your attention on learning God, will give you what we need to walk in His fullness and to be all that He has called you to be and have what He has deemed is yours to obtain!
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