Dedicated Discipleship

In this New Year 2024, we have the opportunity to begin anew in areas of our lives that we want to improve. Good News Author Christine Strittmatter shares a devotional thought on how best we can improve our lives as dedicated disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
​Christine is part of our Pioneers with Pens Christian Writers Mentoring Team and is always a go-to person for wisdom in His Ways.

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Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

Several years ago, I injured my knee and my daughter helped with rehabilitation. Joy is a certified fitness specialist and developed an exercise regimen to strengthen it.

Each week I visited her worksite—a professional center with polished equipment. The place buzzed with swarming clients expecting to receive expert instruction.

Joy guided me from one piece of equipment to the next explaining the correct form. If I whined about the difficulty of an exercise, she’d matter-of-factly state, “Mom, you will be challenged, but not to the point of pain. This will strengthen you.”

Ugh!

But when the session ended, even though my legs wobbled like partially-set gelatin, my heart smiled because I knew my knee was improving.

My daughter successfully strengthened my knee because she studied health science. Her years in college equipped her to rehabilitate clients. She provided individualized attention without a cookie cutter approach.

Similar to Joy’s commitment to study medical textbooks, the Bible is our handbook to instruct us to live sanctified lives. When we read the Word, we protect ourselves from false teachings that lead us astray, and we bolster ourselves for a lifestyle of godliness. We’re assured the Bible provides sound teachings as 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all Scripture is Holy Spirit inspired. We can count on its integrity to rehabilitate our fallen natures.

Consider: The Word is personal, practical, and profitable. How will you commit to deeper study and reflection to become a better student of the Bible?

Further Reading: Joshua 1:6-8 and 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 7

Prayer: Father, may You be glorified as we devote our time and heart to committed study and practice of Your Word. Amen.