As hopefully you know by now, we are in the midst of our “Be, Know, Do” series. To “connect with God,” we should BE a worshiper of Christ, KNOW the Word of Christ, and DO the will of Christ. Today, I want to discuss how we can know the Word of Christ. In order for us to better understand how we can know the Word, I think it’s important to define the word “know.” I mean, I can “know of” someone…I know of the President, but I don’t actually know him. I know of the theory of relativity, but I couldn’t really explain it to you because I don’t really know what it means. However, I could tell you all about my wife and four children because I truly know them.
So, what’s the difference? I think it’s important to know that the Bible was not intended to merely inform us, but also to transform us. So, to “know” the Word is to know what it says and apply what it says. So, what’s the process to make that happen? The Bible is alive (Hebrews 4:12), but how do we “know” it to make it come fully alive to us?
Let me mention the process of transformation that I heard one time from Bible teacher Chip Ingram. He used Joshua 1:8 to describe this process. In Joshua 1:8, God is speaking to Joshua who is taking over the mantle of leadership for Moses. Joshua is about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Therefore, God tells Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way proper prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Here’s the process/steps of being transformed by the Bible:
1. Reception of the Word (Truth Intake) “This book of the Law shall not depart…” This is growth in knowledge (see 2 Peter 3:18).
2. Meditation of the Word (Truth Digested) “but you shall meditate on it day and night…” This is growth in understanding.
3. Application of the Word (Truth Applied) “so that you may careful to do according to all that is written in it.” This is growth in grace (also see 2 Peter 3:18).
4. Transformation by the Word (Truth Integrated) “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” This is grown in fruitfulness.
In John 8:32, Jesus stated “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Application of the truth of God’s Word will change our lives. That’s what it means to “know the Word!