Article by: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries
I have a beautiful Bible Study secret to share with you today.
It’s almost too simple to be considered a secret, but don’t let the simplicity detract from the transformative power of this truth.
You don’t have to be very good at Bible Study to get a lot out of it.
You might feel like you are faltering and fumbling around, aimlessly journeying through the pages of God’s word —but that’s where the magic happens!
I have had the privilege of receiving a quality Christian education from a young age.
My reference library is packed with Concordances, Hebrew/Greek Study Bibles, Topical Bibles, Commentaries and a plethora of other books written to help people like me and you dissect and digest the powerful truths of Scripture.
I love my reference tools, but I must confess that my most profound Bible Study discoveries occur when it’s just me, my Bible, and a willing spirit.
You don’t have to be very good at Bible Study to get a lot out of it.Just Show Up
You see, the Bible is a living book. The God of the universe wrote it. And if He wants to teach me something, all I’ve got to do is show up.
The problem, dear friend, is how often I fail to show up.
How often we fail to show up.
And I think it’s because we have bought into this lie that we need some tool or expert to help us understand God’s Word.
We have bought into this lie that we need some tool or expert to help us understand God’s Word.In the words of my lovable, Jewish pastor, “That’s HOGWASH!”
HOGWASH, I tell you.
God is enough.
He’s always been enough, and He’ll always be enough.
The One who spoke all of creation into existence can and will speak to you through His Word.
When you show up.
I’ve been showing up a lot lately, and God has been meeting me in the pages of His Bible.
As I stumble and fumble, flip and flop through the Scriptures, I’m discovering the most freeing truths.
Showing up is not always pretty.
Showing up is not always organized.
But showing up is always effective.
I’m not sure how I ended up in the book of Isaiah this past week, but I’m so grateful that I did.
The Purpose of Isaiah
If you can make it through the doom and gloom, there is so much beautiful truth woven into this Old Testament book.
In the words of Matthew Henry (the author of my favorite Bible Commentary), “The book of Isaiah is transcendently excellent and useful.”
Yes, I still love my commentaries, but I’m learning that they need to take a backseat to the most powerful Bible Study tool in the world —showing up.
[Tweet “The most powerful Bible Study tool in the world is simply showing up, ready to learn.”]
Henry goes on to say that this piece of prophetic poetry has a three-fold purpose:
1) Conviction of Sin
2) Direction in Duty
3) Consolation in Trouble
As you read through the book of Isaiah you will see his great desire to convince the people of their sin and comfort them with God’s beautiful promise of redemption.
My wandering heart was drawn to the comforting half of Isaiah’s message, the part that whispers God’s goodness and faithfulness to his people (to you and me!).
As I dug into this beautiful book, I discovered so many fantastic truths about this God I serve.
These truths invigorated my weary soul, and it is my prayer that they will do the same for you.
18 Facts about God from the Book of Isaiah
I have hyperlinked all of the references below. Please don’t take my word for it, set aside some time this week to “show up” and study these amazing truths for yourself.
God is merciful and quick to forgive. {Isaiah 55:6-7}
God does not change. {Isaiah 46:4}
God has chosen you. {Isaiah 41:13}
God will help you. {Isaiah 41:13}
God will lead you away from sin. {Isaiah 38:17}
God made you for His glory. {Isaiah 43:7}
God made all things. {Isaiah 44:24}
God is trustworthy. {Isaiah 2:3-4}
God’s strength is always available. {Isaiah 41:10}
God can restore your joy. {Isaiah 51:11}
God’s ways are above your ways. {Isaiah 55:8}
God is your faithful guide. {Isaiah 42:16}
God has a wondrous plan. {Isaiah 25:1}
God will strengthen you. {Isaiah 35:3-4}
God is doing a new thing in you. {Isaiah 43:18-19}
God is merciful and quick to forgive. {Isaiah 55:6-7}
God will deliver you from the pit. {Isaiah 38:17}
God will be with you always. {Isaiah 43:2}
Conclusion
Bible Study is an intimidating endeavor for all believers, even those of us who know how to do it “properly.”
The Bible is a complicated book, and it’s easy to feel lost within its pages.
The one thing we must never forget is that God has promised to meet us in those pages.
God has promised to meet with us in the pages of the Bible, all we've got to do is show up.So show up and lose yourself, for His sake, and I promise…He will find you!
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV
