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Introduction

God desires the best out of His children. He does not take pleasure in people who settle for the least. Mediocrity should not be an attribute of believers, but they are encouraged to strive for mastery in all their endeavors.

Desiring to be Approved

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Ti 2:15). A believer is expected to expand himself or herself in whatever business s/he is capable of doing. One has to push himself or herself forward, accept the challenge, and work against all odds to be what God has created him/her to be. Paul writes that he has not already attained but one thing he does is that he stretches himself forward to capture the reason for which he has been captured by Christ Jesus (Php 3:12-13).

Timothy is to study the word of God to receive God´s approval. You may not be required by God to study to show yourself approved, but you may be required to show yourself approved as an entrepreneur, a businesswoman or a businessman. You may be required to show yourself approved as a policeman or as a military personnel. God expects you to demonstrate excellence in whatever gifts or ability He has endowed you with.

Excellent Spirit

When God gives gifts to a person, He gives that which is excellent. This was a case with Daniel. It is testified of him, that, “..this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Dan 6:3-4).

What distinguished Daniel from all others was his excellent spirit. A person would definitely remain unrecognized if s/he performs averagely. Believers should focus on achieving excellence. Mediocrity should be rejected outright by the people of God. We must work beyond the expectations of men and live to please God. Daniel was an immigrant young man but he had no equal among the royals. He was unique and spectacular. He operated at a higher level than the rest of his contemporaries. Believers are not to succumb to the threats of the established giants neither should they yield to the pressure from within. The children of God are supposed to fetch from the godly deposits on the inside of them, lean on the righteousness of God, and accelerate on the grace of God to maximize their potential.

Conclusion

God has deposited some seed of greatness and excellence in all of us but we need to invest time, efforts and commitment to discover and rediscover that potential as we conscientiously and continuously develop that potential and maximize it for public consumption, and to the glory of the Father.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to discover our passion, and potential and lead us on the path of excellence. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN!

Introduction

In our world, there are bodies, institutions or councils of professions that approve our knowledge, experiences, competencies, and products. The same is true of the church of Christ on earth. Churches have their own ways of accrediting the competencies of people before they are qualified for ordination. According to Paul, approval of men is not enough for the work of the Ministry. It is assumed that if the church board approves of one´s training, then by implication, God approves of the person. This is not always the truth. The church board may approve a person when God has actually disqualified him/her. The reverse is also true. Paul encourages Timothy to study to be approved by God but not by men.

Showing thyself Approved

In our world of information technology where all manner of Biblical teachings and preaching abound on social media, it behooves believers to be circumspect and discerning to avoid deceiving people or being deceived by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14). Timothy was advised to study to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth (2Ti 2:15). If a believer is approved by God in the word, s/he must abhor profanity and vain babblings since they increase unto more ungodliness (2Ti 2:16).

Studying to show oneself approved unto God requires commitment and dedication to the study of His word. A conscious effort is needed to painstakingly and systematically study the Word of God. Tools for interpreting texts are important in the study of the Holy Bible. People should not be deceived to believe in what we call spiritual interpretations of the text when the meaning is clearly written and explained to be understood by the readers or listeners.

Approved by God

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).

Jesus Christ was publicly approved by God when He came out of Jordan river, after having been baptized by John the Baptist. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, you are my beloved Son, in you, I am well pleased (Luk 3:22). A similar approval was given at His transfiguration. It is written that while Peter was speaking to Jesus about the appearance of Moses and Elijah and the need to make their abode on the mountain of transfiguration, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice out of the cloud said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him (Mat 17:15).

In fact, Jesus’ approval was accompanied by signs and wonders. Anywhere he went miracles and signs were done by Him (Acts 10:38). The Apostles also, having been approved by God, were able to do many signs and wonders among the people (Act 5:12). The afore-mentioned statements do not mean that all people who perform miracles are approved by God. And again, it does not mean that preachers who do not perform miracles are not approved by God. Each person has his/her own gift(s) (Rom 12:6). It is God who approves but not those who commend themselves to be approved. Those that the Lord Jesus Christ commends for approval are approved by God (2Co 10:18).

Approving Worthy Things

It is worth saying, that, those who have studied to show themselves approved, do well to approve things that are excellent (Php 1:10). They are careful of the program (s), activities, and lifestyles that they endorse. We must reflect by thinking carefully about the actions and inactions that are approved by us as believers. What we approve must conform to the standards set out in the Holy Scriptures. Sometimes, believers may differ in opinions about what is wholesome, because of their backgrounds but the original meanings of the biblical texts are always the same. We must, therefore, seek the original meaning of the scriptures.

Conclusion

Studying to show oneself approved unto God requires time and dedication to the study of Scriptures. Believers are, therefore, required to work against all odds, to study and interpret the Scriptures aright to receive the blessings of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord God, one thing we ask of you now, is to enlighten us to understand your holy scriptures, as you would like us to teach it. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN!