Studying God’s Word

While there are many Bible study methods (and I plan to share some during my session at the upcoming Outcomes Conference), what I’d like to do is take you on my journey of seeking him first. During this Bible study, Matthew 6:33 became real to me. It has become my life verse.

During this Bible study, Matthew 6:33 became real to me.

This may sound simple, but my journey began with reading the Scriptures and expecting God to speak to me through them. I assumed since I was a faithful Sunday school and VBS girl that I knew God and his Word well. However, I quickly realized I knew about him, but didn’t really know him.

I accepted the fact I was born into sin. (Check-plus.) I believed he died for my sins. (Check-plus.) I attended a local church regularly. (Check.) And I lived in a way that reflected cultural Christianity rather than biblical Christianity. (Check-minus.) It didn’t take long for the Lord to reveal clear gaps in my Christian education and lifestyle choices.

Early lessons

Shocked and fearful are how I would describe my feelings when I discovered how God expected me to think and live. I learned the Beatitudes (Matt. 5) as a child, but didn’t connect them to me personally. Did he really mean I should be happy to be meek or happy when I am persecuted? Up until that point I considered meekness as weakness and took pride in the fact that I wasn’t weak. And persecution? Was that really for the 21^st century Christian in North America?

As I read his teaching about not worrying, was the fact that I considered worry a necessary part of life evidence that I was enslaved to money rather than God, or more pagan in thought and deed? God has a sense of humor because I can remember often saying “if I don’t worry about ‘it,’ ‘it’ will never get done.”

Much of my early walk was seeing the Scriptures as a mirror reflecting my true nature rather than as a window to assess others. God’s Word showed I was certainly seeking something first, but it wasn’t Jesus himself or his kingdom. Time with the Lord through the Bible showed what I sought first was what made me happy and met my lifestyle expectations. Next, was what God wanted.

These early lessons were heartbreaking but also life giving when I understood his compassion and grace toward me. When I stumbled, which was and is daily, he walked me through confession and repentance. He liberally showered me with grace and forgiveness.

Kingdom Lessons

As I learned about myself, he also showed me aspects of his kingdom, and most importantly, how I should relate to those inside and outside.

Jesus gives several descriptions about his kingdom. It isn’t one of this world (John 18:36), and it can’t be pointed to because it is within our midst (Luke 12:21). The apostle Paul expands by sharing that this kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking (Rom. 14:17), and that unrighteousness won’t be a part of this kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-10). We can infer that the kingdom is a present spiritual reality with present earthly implications.

This means that all aspects of my life should look radically different to the surrounding culture. My values, desires, aspirations, how I serve and where are governed by this kingdom. I don’t know about you but some of the expectations seemed impossible.

Love enemies rather than hate? Avoidance was more my style. Give to the needy privately? In all honesty, I liked public recognition. When kingdom citizens have severe conflict, Scripture says go to one another privately first (Matt. 18) rather than to social media or others. Radically different standards that say I should reflect the fruit of the Spirit which are those attitudes and expectations that come from yielding to the Lord. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Gal. 5:22-23) These appeared easy until I didn’t get something I wanted – which was quite often.

A Different Type of “More”

Success according to the culture is determined by having more. More accomplishments, more money, more fill in the blank. In the kingdom however, success is defined as doing the will of God. For Jesus that meant to live a life of suffering for the sins of the world (John 17:4). For the apostles and disciples, the standard was the same (Matt. 16:24). More sorrow; more sacrifice. That is definitely a different type of "more."

Leadership in the kingdom was to be radically different as well.

Leadership in the kingdom was to be radically different as well. “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” (Matt. 20:26, NLT). They were to serve others rather than exercising heavy authority over them as the religious leaders did.

Several years ago, I heard a pastor challenge Bible students to ask themselves who they are in the text. He laughingly made sure we knew we weren’t Jesus. This was a question I took to heart when studying.

I saw myself as one of the disciples, but the reality is I wasn’t unlearned as the disciples were (Acts 4:13). In fact, I became a Bible teacher like the religious leaders. Jesus didn’t have many positive affirmations for this group. And over time I found some of their attitudes present in my own life. In some ways I had become legalistic and prideful. Because of his great love for me, he revealed these attitudes privately and graced me as I learned to walk in humility.

Who are We Seeking?

Living life according to the kingdom was doable but not by striving but by submission. Through consistent Bible study and obedience to what I was learning, he continues to help me become a good kingdom citizen reflecting kingdom values rather than cultural values.

This matters because you can’t teach what you don’t know, and you can’t lead where you won’t go. If we hope to have an impact on the culture, it begins and ends with our time with him.

Daily time is something we all have equally. Each day we are faced with a decision about how to spend that time. We all spend time seeking something whether we participate in work, home, church, or family activities. The question is what are we seeking first?

As we know the truth and live the truth, we become transformed into his image because that truth transforms everyone. As members of the Christian community, this is how we make an impact for the kingdom. This is how we see lives and communities transformed. The first step is seeking him and his kingdom first.

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Karen McNary, SPHR, is the Chief People Officer with Bible Study Fellowship, Intl. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Purdue University, and a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development from Webster University. When she’s not spending time with family, you’ll find her uncovering overlooked jewels at the local thrift store.

 Learn more about Outcomes magazine.