I believe one of the reasons Christians have a hard time with their faith is their lack of Biblical understanding and action. Jesus is not just a historical figure, but a living Lord who wants every Believer to have an abundant and full life. He came to this earth to show the way to the outstretched arms of His Heavenly Father. Through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension the doorway to a new beginning lays open to anyone who would repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
To know Jesus is to learn about Him. By studying the Scriptures, through the tutorship of the Holy Spirit, one begins a journey that encompasses both the valleys and mountaintops. There are those who see Jesus only leading them over the problems, instead of through the challenges. Jesus never promised an easy road, but He did promise He would never leave those who are struggling. Sadly, there are Christians who live off their underlined verses while ignoring the rest of the Scriptures.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked a group of His men to watch and pray while He went deeper into the Garden to face the greatest challenge of His life. While Jesus fought the duel between His human and divine nature, His men were fast asleep. When we face our struggles Jesus is not “asleep,” for He intercedes for us, not only by His petitions to His Father, but through His presence! (Hebrews 7:25, Matthew 28:20)
Christians are called to “study” the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15) To casually open the Scriptures and read a few verses is not studying the Word. When we understand the logistics, teachings, and dialogues we will gain a better perspective of what the Scriptures are saying. Studying the Bible is not a quick road trip, but a slow and methodical journey through truth. To know Jesus involves a textual as well as a personal encounter. Reading about His early life and teachings is the beginning of a living experience with our Lord and Savior.
Grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus. (2 Peter 1:2) The more we study, the more our knowledge of God and Jesus increases. The more we learn about Jesus, the more our confidence grows in Him. Soon our doubts and pouts turn to shouts of Joy as we realize who Jesus was and is. We learn through our knowledge of Him that His divine power has given to us all things pertaining to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) The more we learn through the knowledge of Him, the more challenges in life become stepping stones to a greater solidarity with Him.
A closed Bible leads to a shaky faith. When we see and experience provisional faith, there is nothing that can separate us from Him. It is through His Word that we realize that we are partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped worldly corruption. (2 Peter 1:4)
There is nothing that can affect our relationship with God except our Biblical ignorance. When our faith seems to falter it is not time to question the validity of the Scriptures, rather, it is a time to renew our commitment to the One whom we are called to serve.
