A blast from my past . . . As part of this morning’s reading in 2Timothy I came across a verse which has been foundational in my Christian walk. A verse that was put on my radar as a young believer and I think has shaped me ever since.

In the old “Authorized Version” . . . which is how I was first introduced to it . . . it reads:

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

The emphasis was on “study” . . . study the Word of God, study it hard, and rightly divide the word of truth. My foundational years as a Christian were marked by men and preaching that placed an emphasis on “mining” the truths of the Word of God for myself. Preaching, they said, was “truth advertised”, but you needed to “buy truth” for yourself and that was only done by spending time in the Word . . . and in books explaining the Word.

The modern translations suggest that the AV translators may have been a bit over zealous in translating that first word as “study”. Instead they suggest that the idea is more general as in, “Be diligent” . . . or “Endeavor” . . . or “Exert yourself” . . . to present yourself approved to God. But I think the meaning doesn’t change a lot. The context is “rightly dividing the word of God” — and that’s where we need to be diligent.

The ESV translation of the verse kind of resonates with me . . . not because I necessarily think it is more accurate (because, really, what do I know) . . but because it includes another “blast from my past” — a little phrase of encouragement that I used to say to my girls when they were little (and sometimes still now) . . . “Do your best”.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2Timothy 2:15 ESV)

That’s what we “bring to the table” . . . doing our best. Mine is to put forth my best effort to present myself as one “tried and determined authentic” before God.

My sanctification is not something that I can create or make happen . . . but it won’t happen without me doing my best. Holiness is a work of grace through the indwelling Spirit in my life . . . but it won’t get off the ground if I don’t do my best. And I really believe it starts with the Word of God. I need to read the Word . . . I need to meditate on the Word . . . I need to study the Word. That’s how I will be “transformed by the renewal of my mind” (Rom. 12:2).

I’m not the brightest, I’m not the most learned, but that’s not what God’s asking. He’s simply asking that “I do my best” (to which I must confess, there’s lots of room for improvement there).

I don’t want to be ashamed when I stand before Him, having to acknowledge that I didn’t consider His revealed Word a priority and really don’t know much about it. Instead, I want to, to some degree, be marked as a “workman of the Word” . . . having done my best . . . by His grace . . . through the enabling and illumination of the Holy Spirit . . . and for His glory.

Amen?