Learn, Listen and Focus: Part 1

I will try to make the blog entries as simple as possible. I know and understand that when someone sees lots of paragraphs, words and lines it’s not appealing to the eye and makes you lose interest. So I will try to be brief yet straight to the point, definitely easy enough for a child to understand. In particular, young men.

The first section in our studies comes from the subject matter of Study, Obey and Teach God’s word. I see that in today’s society, we try to teach the word yet; we do not study or obey it. Step one is to open up the word, and read it. This is hard for a young man because of the “thou, shall”, “thy”, “doest” and etc. There are many different versions available to everyone such as the message Bible by Eugene Peterson who also has the Message remix, etc. Not only that there are bibles to suit particular needs, African-American Men’s Bible, Women’s Bibles, Hispanic Bibles, etc. In this day in time, especially with the internet, there are no excuses. I found it awesome that when we stand to read the word that I see many people using their Iphone as I use my Blackberry sometimes! All are available; it just takes the discipline to pick up the word. Remember, don’t just pick it up read and study it.

Ezra was a great example of a Man of intense study. He was a scribe in the Law of Moses in the Old Testament and was extremely well versed with words, ready for any conversation. Ezra was very important reviving how the law was read and interpreted. In order for Ezra to do this he has to Study the word. As with anything, from your classes in school to those who with jobs, we need to study. Take words that we think we know and look them up in dictionaries and Thesaurus. For example as I am writing this, I looked up the word study in the dictionary and I saw that it means:
o Learn about or investigate something
o Look at and consider something
How can I write/teach about how to study the word or what it means to study if I don’t know what study means! Ezra took this thought a step further. Not only did he study but he also taught and promoted the word. The book of Malachi enhances this:
o Now that prophecy was about to cease it was time to promote scripture knowledge, pursuant to the counsel of God by the last of the prophets
(Mal 4:4)
Ezra collected and collated all the copies of the law he could find out, published and accurate edition of it, with all the prophetical books, historical, and practical, that were given by divine inspiration

As Ezra, God has asked us to be diligent in our studies with him and understand his word. We must gain knowledge from the scriptures in order for us to be happy in life. Studying the word is a continuing process from Genesis to Revelation.
1 Th. 4:11
And that ye study to be quiet, and to your business, and to work with your own as hands, as we commanded you
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be as ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Young men (and mature too) we need to understand that when we have a problem we need to go to the word of God. When crisis comes and we are well read in the word a scripture comes to mind, at least in my experience. There are times when I face issues and problems, immediately a scripture comes to mind because God has placed it there. I know it’s hard but we need to make it a habit to read the word daily. It’s just like lifting weights, if you continue to do it, it will become a habit. With each day, you will get better and better. It will be difficult from the start because you will feel like you can’t understand the concepts. That’s when you get a bible study group together, join online chat or call a friend who may be “seasoned” than you are. Even though, I am minster, there are things that I don’t understand and seek other resources. First you should always seek God for wisdom and knowledge. Second, ask someone else and talk about it. This blog is also dedicated to understanding the word and having discussions about the word can apply to your life. That is the vision that God has given to me. I have seen different young men who try to apply by the word but then they don’t study the word. When I was a teen, I would study the word diligently, but I didn’t apply. Today we have to do both. It’s a hard task but we can do all things through Christ.