Be Thou My Vision | -kjv-bible-studies

BE THOU MY VISION

A Bible Study for Women using the authorized King James Bible, the only inerrant Word of God

By Patricia Dowers

Introduction

It seems, these days, everyone is concerned about his or her job description. The prospective employee asks the interviewer, “What is the job description?” We are quick to tell others, “That is not in my job description!” On the one hand we want to know what is expected of us and on the other we do not want anyone to expect too much. Another way to put it is we are willing to do what we need to but not much more. That does not say much for us as a society and I do not believe our founding fathers would have accomplished much with this attitude. The fact remains that each generation seems to be dedicated to making life easier in order to shorten the job description. The question is, “Are we as Christians guilty of the same attitude?” Please join me in this study to discover our job description from the Lord and how He empowers us to glorify Him in labors that have eternal value.

Please note: In this study, as in all others, it is important to read all Scripture references for yourself that you may know what God has to say.

Session 1

The New Testament is overflowing with God’s instruction for doing our best work for His glory. There is one portion in Paul’s letter to the Colossians that puts in a nutshell the qualifications necessary to fulfill the job description assigned to us as workmen that needeth not to be ashamed. (II Tim. 2:15)

In this session and throughout this study we will be exploring the Scripture printed below to discover the Apostle Paul’s prayer for us, and the Lord’s expectation of us to be successful in all He requires.

“That ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

Let us begin with the first phrase of this Scripture, “that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”. As followers of Jesus, sealed by His blood, we must believe that the Bible, God’s Holy Word, given to us through His own inspiration, is the ONLY source of the knowledge of His will. If it comes to us in any other way, we must go to the Bible for confirmation. If you do not find agreement there, discard it as false knowledge. It does not matter if it is dressed in the right clothing, or delivered in familiar words, or coming from an otherwise trusted source, it is still false knowledge and we do not want to be filled with that! (II Cor. 11:13; II Pet. 3:16,17)

A key word in this phrase is “filled”. Our understanding of this word is no room for anything else. The way to be filled with God’s knowledge is to drink deeply from the well of God’s Word.

Please read Hebrews 4:12 and complete the exercise below.

List the attributes of the Word described in this verse. I see at least five.

The Bible is clear about not allowing even a small amount of room for any other belief, philosophy, or unbelief. (Gal.5: 7-9)

Write verse 9 in the space below:

When we allow God’s wisdom to be contaminated by false wisdom, we give rise to doubt and uncertainty that interferes with our usefulness to Him. Soon prayer becomes ineffective because we are not trusting God’s power. As false knowledge displaces the knowledge of God in our hearts we can no longer discern His will for our lives.

Satan twisted the knowledge of God back in the Garden of Eden. This deception worked for him, so why should he stop. We are just as vulnerable as Adam and Eve and must heed God’s warning to remain on guard.

Being filled with His knowledge, we are ready for the walk. Join me in our next session as we see where it leads.

Session 2

In this session we will focus on the second phrase in our Scripture passage. Please reread the complete passage in Colossians 1:9-12.

Please copy verse 10 in the space below:

This task of walking worthy seems daunting, but remember, the Lord knows our limitations and His power in us is limitless. Walking worthy, as any walk, begins with a first step. The first step in walking worthy is toward “all pleasing”. The One Who must be pleased is God (Phil. 2:13-15). When we please God, we are pleasing to others. If we are rejected, it is God in us Who is rejected (I Peter 4:14). Even that is pleasing to God because we are identified with Him.

How do we know how to please God? We know from the Bible. The New Testament epistles give the church age Christian particular instruction on how to please God. Obedience is key.

Please read the verses listed below and identify how we please God through obedience:

1. I The. 5:17

2. II Tim. 2:15

3. Heb. 2:13

4. Jam. 1:22

The next steps in our walk lead to “being fruitful in every good work”. As we learned in previous studies, fruitfulness for the Lord is always good and always lasting. God is not interested in our self-motivated achievements or half-hearted attempts at ministry. Time is precious and we are not to waste it with “stubble” (I Cor. 3:12-15).

Every task He sets before us can become fruit for the Lord if we are mindful that He is not only observing our outward manifestation, but also reading the intentions of the mind and heart (Heb. 4:12). Whether we labor on a grand scale or work quietly on the smallest task, nothing we do is insignificant to the Lord if we are pleasing Him by bearing fruit in His name.

Take some time in your group to discuss your experiences with “fruit” and “stubble” in your own walk. How did you know the difference? Jot your notes below:

Of course Scripture is always our source for defining fruit and gives us a number of examples (Phil. 1: 9-11). Sometimes we cannot see the resulting fruit but must trust that the Lord will use our piece of the process. Do not forget, many of us will testify they are what I sometimes refer to as, “assembly line” Christians. That means they did not come to know the Lord as a result of one person’s ministry but by bits and pieces from a number of faithful believers witnessing, laboring and praying for them.

If this is your testimony or perhaps the testimony of someone for whom you have prayed, please share it with the group for encouragement to stay the course.

The last phrase of verse 10 is “increasing in the knowledge of God”. There is only one source of the knowledge of God and that is His inerrant Holy Word. If we believe that the Bible, as it claims, is for all of us at every stage of our Christian maturity, then the word “increasing” denotes a continuous process. We can never attain all of its knowledge in this lifetime. If one were to study God’s word every hour of every day for all of a very long lifetime, there would still be more to learn. Put in simple terms, I cannot take a break from Bible study because I think I know it all. That would only prove I know nothing.

I must say from my own experience, that reading the Bible, not as a duty but from the perspective of increasing in the knowledge of God, has been a pleasure, and an exciting adventure. Those who know me know how much I value my exciting adventures. Beside that, I have gained an increasing understanding (never a complete understanding) of how Holy God moved through history to reconcile us to Himself and all I have to do is believe it. Amazing grace!

Join me in the next session as we discover strength and power for the task before us.

Session 3

Let us review our job description thus far. We are to be filled with the knowledge of His will, walk worthy unto all pleasing and bear fruit in every good work. We also must never neglect to increase in the knowledge of God. How do we accomplish all of this? Thankfully, the next verse tells us.

Please copy Colossians 1:11 in the space below

What a relief to read that strength for these tasks comes from His glorious power and not my own faltering efforts! God’s work is important to Him. He knows our limitations and, in His love and generosity, takes pleasure in lending His strength. What He wants from us is acknowledgement that we need His strength and willingness to accept it (Psa. 31:2,3). We may think of an employer providing training and tools to make us successful, but this is a weak analogy compared to the investment of love and sacrifice the Lord has placed on us.

Scripture is brimming with situations where the Lord assigns tasks to men and women and provides the strength for accomplishment. Some humbly accepted His strength and others tried to go it on their own. Can you think of one or two examples of both and the outcomes? Please share these examples with your group. You may find it helpful to record them using this example:

Scripture ref: Book of Jonah

Person or persons involved: Jonah

What was the task? God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn them.

Was God’s strength accepted and His instructions followed? No, Jonah ran in the opposite direction.

Was God pleased with the outcome? No, God provided a fish to change Jonah’s heart and set him on the right path.

Scripture ref:

Person or persons involved:

What was the task?

Was God’s strength accepted and His instructions followed?

Was God pleased with the outcome?

Scripture ref:

Person or persons involved:

What was the task?

Was God’s strength accepted and His instructions followed?

Was God pleased with the outcome?

I find the second part of this verse (Col. 1:11) particularly interesting. God’s strength is not necessarily for busting down the gates, although sometimes He uses it in that way and it is very awesome and exciting. In this case His strength is for patience and longsuffering. Personally, I would rather have the busting down the gates sort of strength but the Lord knows we all, more typically in our daily lives, need strength for patience and longsuffering.

The ladies of my own Bible study have participated in numerous discussions on this very subject. I always enjoy their honesty and humor as they share different situations in their own lives of how they need God’s strength in this area. I believe they would join me in saying that God imparts His strength to us when we join together as part of the Body of Christ to uplift each other. It is always energizing to know that others share the work, concerns and goals that glorify God.

The last two words of this verse’ “with joyfulness” is, in my mind, a most needed reason for God’s strength. It has been my experience and perhaps yours as well, that when I am trying to obey the Lord as Scripture instructs, by being patient and longsuffering during times of trouble, I do or say something that draws attention to myself and dishonor to the Lord. This happens when I begin purposely looking for comfort from others in a way that draws pity or implies that God has abandoned me. Rather than moaning, “Why has the Lord allowed this in my life?" which shows a lack of trust that cancels out longsuffering, Scripture teaches me to enlist others in the Body of Christ to join with me in prayer for patience and strength while waiting on the Lord’s direction. As Christians we believe that God works all things for good in His time (Rom. 8:28). If I truly believe this then my joyfulness during difficulty is sincere. This is my witness to the world. How can I not be joyful when the Lord has accomplished my salvation, life and eternity in perfect ways I cannot imagine?

In our next session we will discover the reward for a job well done.

Session 4

Those of us who have participated in job interviews, and for some of us there have been many, are always interested in the end reward. What do I get for my labor? It is a valid question, but remember this job description is different from all others.

There is an important distinction in Col. 1:12 that differs from our worldly experience. Generally we are accustomed to receiving the reward after the work. In this case the reward must be accepted before we are even eligible to do the work. I am sure you realize I am referring to salvation through belief on the finished work of Christ on the cross.

The last verse in this study reminds us that we work toward pleasing the Lord in thankfulness, Who has already rewarded us in sealed redemption and adoption into the family of God. Also, we learn from this Scripture passage (Colossians 1:9-12) the Lord is not only interested in the results, but the process and attitude, as well.

To summarize, our work is not about earning our position but about thankful obedience to the only One qualified to establish our position.

Please reread Colossians 1: 9-12 and copy verse 12 in the space below.

I have included an old familiar hymn to read and share with your group.

Be Thou My Vision

Words attributed to Dallan Forgaill, 8th Century translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne, in “Eriú,” Journal of the School of Irish Learning, 1905, and versed by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912, alt.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Now try to identify from this hymn phrases that equip you for laboring for the Lord. Also, you may find some items you will not need.

Make your lists in the space below and discuss them with your group.

Conclusion

The second part of verse 12 reminds us that we are partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. What is our inheritance? It is eternal life in Jesus, sharing in the suffering, sharing the labor, sharing the joy, sharing the reign, and the reward with our fellow saints. What did we do to earn it? Nothing! What did the Lord give to secure it for us? Everything! Why do we labor? We labor because we are sealed in Him, and He in us, and it is His labor. We do it willingly and thankfully and all for His glory.

It is my hope and prayer that this study encourages you to seek the Lord’s direction in how you may labor for Him and proceed in His strength with joy...

and may your vision only be found in Jesus.