There’s a beautiful promise tucked into 2 Timothy 2:7 that I find myself returning to again and again: “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
This isn’t just good advice—it’s an encouragement we desperately need to grab hold of.
When Scripture Feels Hard
I’ll be honest with you: I read things in Scripture sometimes and think, What? I don’t understand this at all. I have to go find commentaries and lean on other people’s insights because certain passages just don’t make clear sense to me at first.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re in excellent company. Even the apostle Peter admitted that some of Paul’s letters contained “things hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:15-16). So this promise that God will give us understanding? I want to hold onto it tightly.
Notice what’s happening here: God calls us to give careful consideration to His Word, and He promises that the Lord will give us understanding. It’s both direction and promise wrapped together.
What “Consider” Really Means
The word “consider” sounds a bit lightweight to our modern ears. When we say “I’ll consider it,” we often mean “I’m probably not going to think about it again.”
But the Greek word Paul uses here is presented as what scholars call a “present active imperative.” Without getting too technical, this means it’s not casual at all. It’s vital. It’s something you give yourself to regularly, day by day, with commitment and intentionality.
The insight God gives doesn’t precede your consideration—it follows it. You do the work of considering Scripture, and God brings along the insight you need.
So here’s the challenging question: Does God’s Word get the attention it deserves in your day-to-day life?
Most of us struggle with consistency and diligence in handling the Bible. I get it. But let’s explore what God promises when we engage with His Word.
A Prayer Worth Praying
In Colossians 1:9-12, Paul prays something powerful for the believers at Colossae. He prays they would be:
- Filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
- Able to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him
- Bearing fruit in every good work
- Growing in the knowledge of God
- Strengthened with all power according to His glorious might
- Characterized by great endurance, patience, and joyful thanksgiving
That sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I’ve prayed this passage for myself many times. That’s who I want to be.
But here’s the important point: This doesn’t happen right away. Paul is praying for something they’ve begun but are far from finished. Every believer has begun in Christ, but we’re all far from where we want to be. This kind of growth takes time and effort.
The Soldier, the Athlete, and the Farmer
Paul gives Timothy three powerful illustrations to consider:
The soldier is single-minded, focused on pleasing his commanding officer. He doesn’t get entangled in things that distract from his mission.
The athlete competes according to the rules—not just the rules of the game, but the rules of preparation. You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to be a pole vaulter. It takes preparation, time, and investment.
The farmer works hard and consistently to produce a harvest. Crops don’t just appear. It requires diligent, sustained effort.
Each illustration emphasizes the same truth: growth requires present, active, imperative involvement.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Here’s the wonderful news: your growth in Christ doesn’t depend solely on you.
Jesus promised His disciples: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
If you’re a believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit is living in you. He is your teacher, your helper, your guide into all truth. What an incredible privilege! The world cannot see or receive the work of the Spirit, but you know Him because He dwells in you.
The Holy Spirit will turn the lights on for you. But think about it this way: you can have electricity flowing to a light fixture, but the light doesn’t come on by itself. It takes both the power and the effort—as small as flipping a switch—to make the light come on.
Three Common Mistakes
In his commentary on Timothy, John Stott identifies three ways Christians miss out on serious Bible study:
- Laziness – They simply don’t want to put forth the effort
- False spirituality – They think they can just open their Bible randomly and the Holy Spirit will mystically reveal what they need to know, without any real study
- Self-reliance – They study diligently, comparing versions and consulting commentaries, but forget that it is the Lord alone who imparts understanding
I’ve encountered many scholars who know more Scripture than I do, who could run circles around me in theological discussions, but they’re not born again. They’re scholars, and they’re empty. They’ve divorced what God has put together—the diligent study of Scripture and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
We need both. We need to be hardworking farmers who also rely completely on the Holy Spirit to bring true understanding.
Starting Where You Are
If you’re sitting there thinking, “I really haven’t given God’s Word the time it needs,” don’t jump into some overwhelming Bible reading plan tomorrow. Start wisely. Start small. Start somewhere edifying.
The Bible is completely inspired, but not every part is equally edifying for someone just beginning to develop consistent Bible study habits. Start with one of the Gospels. Start with Philippians or Colossians. Find something that builds you up.
And every day, pray simply: “Lord, fill me with Your Spirit. Give me insight into Your Word.”
A Challenge for This Week
How about the Fighter Verse we’re memorizing this week?
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you.” (Proverbs 4:23-24)
Sit with this Scripture for a week. Meditate on it. Pray about it. Live with it. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it.
I promise you’ll find that as you fill your heart with God’s Word, when you’re praying for people, counseling people, speaking to people, all of a sudden—boom—that Scripture you memorized appears. God takes what you’ve stored up and gives it to others through you.
The Holy Spirit enlightens you, brings His Word to life in you, and that life touches other people’s lives. That’s what He wants to do through us.
So let me ask again: Is God’s Word getting the attention it deserves in your life?
Consider what He says. And trust His promise: the Lord will give you understanding.
This is between you and God. Not a guilt trip, but an invitation. Start today. Involve yourself regularly with God’s Word, invite the Holy Spirit daily to give you insight, and watch what He does in your life.
