Pearls of Principles

Email This Post

There are some books that have been written for us to read for our enjoyment and /or entertainment. And then there are other books which have been written to impart profitable knowledge to us. Many years ago I taught a basic marketing course at SMU. On the first day of class I told the students that they could read enough of the text so that they could pass the tests and then they would probably forget what they had read. However, it was suggested that as they read the text they should search deeper for marketing principles that would help them to grasp the real meaning of the subject matter. By doing so, the information would remain with them longer and they would better appreciate the course. To assist them, they were given Webster’s definition of principle which is a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine or assumption.

We can take the same approach in reading our Bibles. We can read them superficially like we would read a novel or we can dig for pearls of Christian principles which will abide with us as we apply their teaching. The best study Bible is probably one without any notes. By reading a Bible without notes, Holy Spirit can reveal what He desires for us to learn at that specific point of time in our life. A good example of a Christian principle can be found in James 1:2-4. “(2) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (NKJ) The pearl is found in verse three; “…the testing of your faith produces patience.” We need not only to mentally know the Biblical principles but to also appropriate them in our spirit so that they may be of the fullest benefit to us. The challenge to each of us is “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15, NKJ).

Evotational Filed under Evotational |