Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it enlightens and educates the person.  When we question, examine, and probe, we mine truth that is lying just beneath the surface of understanding. A casual reading of scripture may produce a smattering of “head knowledge” of Biblical content, but probing the Scripture yields truth that can change our lives.

Dig Deeper into God’s Word

In last Wednesday’s blog, I shared with you 7 Practices to Help You Meditate on Scripture.  Today, I want to share an effective probing tool I learned from my pastor during my teen years, Jimmy Corbitt.  Jimmy is now the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Bolingbroke, Georgia and continues to lead believers to grow in their faith.

Probe Scripture SPECK-tacularly

One effective way to probe a Scripture passage involves using the letters of the word “speck” to ask five questions about what we read.  A Bible passage may answer one, two, or any number of these questions, though very seldom would you find an answer to 4 or all 5 of them.  Consider these 5 SPECK questions as you read your study passage.

1.  Is there a SIN I need to confess?

Sin comes in three forms.  There are sins of commission, those actions we commit that violate God’s Word; sins of omission, those actions God has commanded us to do that we have yet to obey; and sins of dispositions, attitudes, thoughts, aspirations that go against what God has prescribed for us.

All the Holy Spirit to use the Bible to shed light on and examine your heart and mind.  When He reveals sin to you, quickly confess it and plan to move on from it.

2. Is there a PROMISE that I can claim?

God’s Word is full of promises to His people.  While we need to take care not to apply to ourselves promises intended for specific times and specific people, we can find promises that relate to the unchanging character and nature of God and His activity in our lives.  Claim these promises and make adjustments in your life accordingly.

3.  Is there an ENCOURAGEMENT I need to hear?

Encouragement can come in both positive and negative voices.  Often, God’s Word offers a kind word of encouragement that compels us to remain faithful and continue in our present path.  Other times, the Bible speaks a loving but corrective word of rebuke that encourages us to get off of a wayward path and return to the direction God has for us.  Allow the Bible verses you read to speak encouragement in your life.

4.  Is there a COMMAND I need to obey?

In many places in God’s Word is instructive and we do well to hasten to align ourselves with that teaching.  We may find prescriptive commands that give us specific action to engage or avoid, and we may find descriptive commands that describe specific attitudes, actions, and affections we should develop in our lives.  Whatever the command, do not delay in obeying it.  Obedience delayed is still disobedience.

5.  Is there KNOWLEDGE I can gain?

One of the purposes of God’s Word is to reveal who He is in ways that we can know and understand Him.  As we read the Bible, we find out more about this God who created us, loves us, and redeemed us, and we fall more deeply in love with Him as we get to know Him better.  The deeper our knowledge of God goes, the deeper our love for Him grows.

As you probe the Bible passage using these 5 questions, write what God says to you.  I will speak more about note-taking and journalling next week, but for now let me say that writing down what God shows you will cement that teaching in your heart and mind.

Feel free click on the comments tab above and share ways you probe the Word of God to mine the truth beneath the surface.