How comes Bible study and knowing the word does not produce the life and works of Christ in most Christians' lives? Our manifestation of God's power can fairly be said to be about the same as it was - with perhaps slight variation - 10, 20, 30 even 40 years ago. It would seem that studying, as we have practiced it, hasn't worked.

People who place more weight on knowledge than practice are sticklers for quoting 2 Timothy 2:15 from the King James Version of the Bible: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Actually, the word translated 'study' is, spoudazō; a greek word meaning: to make haste, to give diligence. The better translation is expressed in the NASB, or in this English Standard Version: Do your best (NASB: Be diligent) to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

The writer of Hebrews 4:2 reminds us that the word of God came to men of old and to us: For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

Do you think this could be a factor in our case? Jesus emphatically declares that those of us who believe in Him will do the works He did. Clearly He commands his followers to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers and preach the Gospel to the poor.

These are His directives. We cannot study them away. And, obviously, we cannot study them into our reality. Freely, says Jesus, you have received - My power, My Spirit, My authority and My command to - freely give.

Jesus's approval lands far less on our studying, than on our doing. After all, that lines up well with how Jesus described those who love Him in Jn 14:15: If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Should we take the next decade or two and do what we've studied for the last, we'll start looking much more like disciples than scribes.