In agriculture, one of the ways to classify plants is by their root system. The deeper a plant’s root runs, the harder it is to uproot and the better its chances of surviving harsh conditions.

A similar system operates in the life of a believer. 

Colossians 2:6-7
New King James Version
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

In his letter to the church in Colossae, Apostle Paul calls the Colossians back to the basis of their teachings since becoming believers. He uses the image of a tree, well rooted, to remind them of their firm foundation in what they had been taught.

The believer’s life is not only fueled by growth in prayer, fasting, and fellowship but also by the study of the Word. For you to be steadfast in your walk with God, your study of the Word of God must be consistent. In this growth, you attain the maturity that takes you from being a child of God to being a son responsible for the kingdom, one God can entrust the lives of others to.

Such a life isn’t built by the number of years spent in the faith but by a believer who truly understands and can train other up in the way of the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:2
New King James Version
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

All you have been taught is not to profit your spiritual growth alone. There is a responsibility to handle the Word of God with diligence and teach, correct, and admonish, others from the Word. This maturity calls for the believer to be able to give an answer always for the faith.

I Peter 3:15
New King James Version
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

To give an answer, you must be one who can rightly divide or correctly explain the word of truth to others. This comes only by proper study of the Word which leads to proper exegesis.

In the face of temptation, Jesus showed us the way to overcome it.

Matthew 4:3-4
New King James Version
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”

His first resort was to quote scriptures. None of that would be possible if he didn’t study to know what the Word said and how to appropriate the right scripture to each situation.

Philippians 2:5-7
New King James Version
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

God did not hold Himself back for salvation. He took on the shameful position of being human. Think about the mindset of sacrifice behind this. The perseverance it would have taken to have endured the cross. Now, let this mind be in you that you can lay aside great privileges for the service of God. Think like this!

This is what pushes you to more study. When you realize that what you have been called to is beyond only yourself, you can train yourself to consecration.

You have a call of God over your life, and you must be ready to do anything to fulfil that call. Give ample time not only to praying long but to studying. Invest in it.

2 Timothy 2:15
New King James Version
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Do all that you can to ensure that you handle the Word of God rightly till it forms in you a solid foundation that cannot be easily moved.

Prayer Point
Lord, I recognize the place of your Word in my life and I give myself wholly to proper study of it. I am not thrown about by every wind of doctrine but I remain steadfast in the truth of your Word.