Lesson 6: Consistent Bible study
2 Timothy 2:15 
15 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.

As you were encouraged in an earlier lesson, I ask you to read the book of 1 John, five chapters, each day, whether as a part of this study or just as your time alone with Jesus. Even at the best of times in our lives we need to hear Him and talk with Him every day.

When you open your Bible to read, begin by asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and help you understand what you read. This was the reason Jesus gave Him to us (John 14:26). There are three levels of teaching He will give you. First, is the teaching of knowledge. So much of what the Bible teaches is not what we learn anywhere else in our world, because His ways are not our ways. What makes sense to us is often not His way of doing things. So we read the Bible – examples in the Old Testament, and instruction in the New Testament – to learn His way.

Second, as we gain the knowledge, He will help us understand. He will turn it into wisdom. In wisdom is how we learn to turn the knowledge into practical understanding in our lives. We gain the knowledge that Jesus wants us to love our neighbor. But understanding and wisdom come when that knowledge is opened in our heart and we see our Christian friend praying for us or encouraging us to stay focused on breaking our addiction, and we suddenly understand that these words are words of love from our friend to us, helping us not to become upset at what might sound like criticism. Then comes the third part, the relationship with Jesus. We put into practice what our friend has said and we know Jesus is leading us into freedom.

Verse to memorize: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Your prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, teach me today as I open the Bible. Help me to learn, and then give me the wisdom to understand, so I may follow Jesus more closely.