Study, practice, teach

Ezra 7:10 (NASB)

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

I stumbled across this obscure verse during a time when I had resolved to read every book of the Bible.  I was thick into adult Bible teaching at the time and this verse reached out and grabbed me by the throat.  I was fascinated and loved what it said.  Note the three key verbs of this one verse---study, practice, teach.

Study the law of the Lord

You’ve heard the difference between reading the Bible and studying the Bible?  Studying the Bible requires a writing utensil.  Studying the Bible is like studying a book for an educational course you are taking.  You make notes, you read several times, you commit certain teachings to memory, and you take and pass a test.   The test you take from studying the Bible is discussed next.  The Hebrew word used for study means to “seek” or “investigate”.  Simply reading the Bible does not allow you to seek and investigate God’s Word, asking yourself and writing down answers to questions such as “is there a sin to avoid”; “is there a promise to claim”; or “is there a command to follow”.    

Practice the law of the Lord

Unless you are a seminary student, you never have to take and pass a test on your Bible.  However, think about it, the test you take is how you live each day of your life after committing your life to Christ and you pass the test by the clear conscience you have that you have done your best to obey and apply what the Bible teaches.  You might know all there is to know about the Bible, but head knowledge is not enough.  You must go out and practice what you learn from you study of the Scriptures.  And, don’t worry about not knowing everything you should know about the Bible.  It will take the rest of your life to learn some of what the Bible teaches.  Doing is more important that knowing.  It is not how much you know, it is how much you love God and love and care for others. 

Teach His statutes and ordinances

Teaching the Scriptures to someone else not only proves what you have learned but also enables you to learn even more.  While you may not have a natural or spiritual gift of teaching, every Christian has the responsibility to teach others about the Word of God just as you have responsibilities to practice what you have learned and to share your faith with others.  You can teach someone in your family, in your job, in your neighborhood, or wherever.  As you are studying the Word in your quiet time, study with the idea that you might have to teach what you are learning. 

Ezra has been described as a man who exemplified what Psalms 1:1-3 says:  “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers”.  By studying, practicing and teaching the Word of God, you too will be blessed and prosperous.