My Study

My wife and I are in the long and brutal process of moving. Not only moving, but moving out of state. All the packing, lifting furniture, Penske truck rentals, etc. while working and doing everything else you have to do can really take a toll on you.

Last night, I was reminded of when we first moved in to our first place as a married couple. We have a spare room that I made into a 'man cave'. A few days afterward, it was filled with all sorts of my wife's belongings... Anyway, I made this room my study or office of sorts. In this room is my desk, computer, Bible, notes, books, etc. I have made this room my prayer and study room which I visit on a daily basis. I guess you could say I have made my study my altar.

The LORD began speaking to my heart last night as I was going through this room. Seeing all the clothes, boxes, and miscellaneous things laying around makes it look chaotic in here; but in the midst of the mass confusion that is in this room, I made my way to my altar.

The Bible says, "Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Ti. 2:15). The Message Bible puts it this way, "Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple".

Could it be that the studying part is the prayer, fasting, and dedication that comes with a life of consecration to God? I have made my study my place of prayer and devotion, so this scripture comes to a new life to me. My 'study' is my dedicated life.

A life that is filled with prayer, fasting, dedication, and sacrifice will be the most rewarding life anyone could ever live. In our 'study' we show ourselves approved. Whether our study be beside a chair, bed, couch or whatever else, we must show ourselves approved unto God.

I've made my study my personal place of dedication. Where is yours? A study is not a fun place to the flesh... trust me. I wake up and go directly to the coffee pot that has been set on auto-brew to wake myself up, then make my way to my study. It takes extreme discipline on my part because I am in no way a morning person. Like I said, a study is never fun or appealing to the flesh, but it is most rewarding to the spirit. A dedicated life... it takes a study.

Think about it.

J.H.

Master's Degree

Last Sunday morning, I was in a church service at the First Apostolic Church in Maryville, TN... as I always am. Standing in the congregation, singing, and offering up praises to the most high God, something caught my attention. Now, please realize, I do not go around looking at people and letting my mind wander off in the distance... not in a church service anyway; but on this particular morning, I noticed something and I could not pull my gaze away from it.

I noticed a man sitting down and looking at a copy of the recently published Apostolic Witness magazine. It was just an ordinary thing. I mean, how many people do you see looking at a magazine? This particular instance, however, was interesting to me. You see, it was not the man looking at the magazine, rather, it was what was on the back of the magazine that caught my eye. I couldn't see the entire page, but at the top was labeled, "Master's Degree."

Immediately my mind started working. Things like, "What's that about?" & "I wonder what is says." began to come in my mind. Later in the day, this thought still had not let go of me. I began to wonder if it was talking about a degree in education, a pedigree of some sort, etc.

You see, I am currently pursuing higher education. My first thought about this page on the magazine was of a Bible College... being as how it was on an Apostolic magazine and all; but throughout the day I began to see it in a new light. What if it was about The Master?

Whether or not the magazine page was about college, pedigree, or something else, I kept thinking of the title, Master's Degree, in a new form.

In any form of education, you must dedicate your time and even sacrifice your desires in order to achieve a degree. How much more should we sacrifice and dedicate our time, efforts, and energy for a greater cause? What if we pursued what the Master intended for our lives?

So many of us, myself included, have tried to earn education, titles, respect, etc. Spending hours in front of a computer or head-first in a book, but for what? A man's approval? Where is God in this picture? Instead of trying to please everyone around us, why not purpose to please Jesus? He is the Master and He is calling us to a higher standard, a higher purpose, a higher... degree.

Friends, the Master is calling us. He wants to bless you and fill your life with joy unspeakable. The Master's Degree is what Jesus wants you to be.

Even as a child, Jesus was found in the temple amongst doctors, teachers, etc. He was teaching them not the other way around. Jesus was educated and purposeful about His Father's business. That is a prime example for us to follow. We should be about our Father's business, sharing God's Word, teaching others about Him, letting everyone know that there is hope, there is a better way, there is love, and God does love you!

When I receive my Master's Degree from a University, I'll basically have a piece of paper saying that I'm educated in a particular field. What I really desire, what I dedicate my life to, is the the Master's reward. His 'degree' will be words filled with power and life; "well done." It's my desire to be with people of like precious faith that have made their way through this life, throw my graduation cap up in the air and enter into glory!

I long to achieve my Master's degree.

J.H.