Monday, June 5, 2017

Study (Part 2—Reading and Perceiving)


Sure, you know how to read, but are you reading with a method? Read with purpose and purpose to read.

June’s Awakening, Day 5

I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! Ecclesiastes 1:13 NIV         



They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Nehemiah 8:8; 9:3 NIV 



You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39–40 NIV 



Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 1 Timothy 4:13 NIV



            Reading any nonfiction book should be undertaken with a purpose and methodology employed. There are three intrinsic rules and three extrinsic rules that you should always follow. The first intrinsic rule is to understand what you’re reading—what is the author saying, no more and no less. Secondly, we need to properly interpret the information in its proper context—what does the author mean, no more and no less. The third and final intrinsic rule is to evaluate the information—has the author been clear and precise, does the information appear to be logical and reasonable, is there additional information elsewhere (within the text and other sources) to solidify the assertions and conclusions of the author, is the author a reputable and reliable source, and do you believe the information to be true or do you disagree?

            After you have gone through the three intrinsic rules in their order, then you need to follow the three extrinsic rules for final evaluation and confirmation of the information. The first extrinsic rule is experience—does what we have read confirm or contradict what we know from our already ingrained knowledge base and life experiences. This takes much discernment, for if we are starting with wrong ingrained information it takes exponentially more information to counteract and replace the wrong information with the correct information. Obviously, it is much easier if you learn correct information initially, than if you’ve been told wrong, learned wrong, and currently are thinking wrong, and the longer those incorrect ingrained patterns of thinking have been there, the harder they are to correct into the truth. The second extrinsic rule is to read other books and information on the same topic—the more information you can gather and assimilate, the more likely you are to end up with the most likely correct mode of thinking. Yet this too, can often be flawed and lead you astray. You must pick your sources wisely and sometimes need to search and think outside of the standard. The conventional mode of thinking does not always make it right, and new information always sheds new light on what we formerly understood. Finally, live discussion with others brings varied and often unique viewpoints to bear on the subject and can be a means to reevaluate your own thoughts. Once you are certain about the information, then it is time to solidify it in your mind and begin the application of the information, including any transformation that should entail.

            We have discussed the verbal or written book and lastly we will now briefly look at the nonverbal book, which is the entire world around us. This may be the least recognized, but possibly the most important source of information. It entails the true observation of reality in people, nature, events, and actions. God’s created order of things speaks volumes if we will intently observe. It requires a reverent observation first, and second, to love what you sense. Do so, and you will certainly learn from all that you take in.

            As you spiritually mature, one of the most important areas of study should become the study of yourself. You should continually be studying and evaluating your relationship with God and others, the things that control you, your emotions toward yourself and others and why, your likes and dislikes and why, your strengths and weaknesses, how you can become the most effective and productive, and what all this teaches about yourself. Knowing yourself better will help you to know and understand God better and vice versa. 


Author Web Page Link

No comments:

Post a Comment