“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (Pro 13:20).”

Now I’ve already covered much of Part 3 in an earlier blog entitled Why you Should be part of a Life Group, but some things are worth repeating.

We need to commit to one another.  Because the Bible seems so foreign to the modern reader it is going to take time to learn it and incorporate it into your life.  When we commit to one another we are committing to the truth that who God says He is and what He says He has done is real and that conviction moves us towards righteous works.  Often those righteous works begin with the endeavor of learning to understand God’s Word.

But it is not that easy.  Trouble is going to come.  Peter reminds us, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (1Pe 4:12)” and Paul tells Timothy, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… (2Ti 3:12).”  We don’t just need to be encouraged to read the Bible we need to be encouraged to persevere when life is tough.  Real wisdom comes from experience and often God combines our faithful time in His Word with our most challenging experiences to deepen our faith in Him.  Challenging experiences require encouragement.

It’s not unlike marriage and the wedding ceremony.  We stand before a pastor and a church body and exchange wedding vows designed to forge our love for one another into a commitment to one another.  But the communal nature of the wedding isn’t because we need witnesses to the event but rather because we need people who know that we have committed to one another to remind us of that commitment during the times of “worse,” “poorer,” and “sickness” that always comes.  We need people who have experienced and survived those times to guide us and encourage us to continue.

Today, I think many new Christians are surprised by those times.  As if accepting Jesus as our Lord and King is meant to keep us from those times.  Remember, Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you (Joh 15:18-20).”  Should a husband and wife be surprised by times of struggle in their relationship?  Should deprivation and mortal risk surprise a soldier?  Likewise, Christians should not be surprised by persecution and challenge.  We haven’t accepted Christ to avoid the challenges of life we have accepted Christ because we believe that He is who He says He is.

Recently I saw a very common meme in which the saying, “I found more answers in the woods then I ever found in the church” was laid over a beautiful wilderness scene.  Don’t get me wrong, I have often complained that the Army would be great except for the soldiers and even that the church would be great except for the parishioners.  I am fully aware of how frustrating people can be.  But there are only two things that you will find in the wilderness.

First, you will encounter God.  “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse (Rom 1:19-20).”  What should follow from that knowledge is an awareness of your accountability to that creator.  And in that moment a feeling of despair, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Rom 1:18).”  Second, second you will find a reprieve from those very people who so often frustrate each of us.

But what you won’t find is the knowledge necessary to secure your salvation from the judgment necessitated by your own unrighteousness or the encouragement to continue in that salvation.  That is why we need one another.

So, what does this look like?  What does it look like to engage with other Christians about the Bible?  First, I would encourage you to find a local church.  There are many denominations out there.  If you ask about the differences and similarities of each you will find that although there are many disagreements, they all agree on the essentials and that there is a denomination that is a fit for you.  Second, get involved in what that church is doing.  That involvement will expose you to the members of that church and help you to identify who is serious and who you can trust.  And finally, get involved in a Bible study with those people.

Thank you for reading my blog.  This is part three of a three-part series I am entitling “Aaron’s Guide to Knowing God’s Word.”  If you are interested in the other two parts, Part 1 can be found here and Part 2 can be found here.

I would like to invite you into a daily Bible reading plan.  I’m a firm believer that it is the only thing that will keep us close to God’s wisdom and inform us of the lies of the enemy.  I am calling it “Finding God’s Wisdom Day by Day” and you can find it at Faithlife.com  You can find it on the right side of the page below the RSS feed to my blog.  It is set up to start on January 1st but just push the catchup button and start reading where we are today.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash.