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

The other day, I heard a Christian leader quote that verse and then say, “If you can rightly divide the word of truth, then you can wrongly divide it too!” Even as I chuckled an “Amen”,  I was brought back to my 11th grade Government Class…

I still remember the day we learned about the time-honored American tradition of gerrymandering! When the teacher explained that our carefully crafted U. S. Constitution allows for politicians to draw voting district lines on their state maps that look like bizarre puzzle pieces, all for the sake of tipping election outcomes toward their preferred party, I was amazed! As my 17 year old self pictured grown ups fighting in order to draw perfectly obscure district parcels on their state, I decided it was very immature of them!  (If I’m honest, to this day I still think gerrymandering isn’t all that different than when the kid who brings his kickball to the empty lot is allowed to make the rules!)

Later I looked up other translations of 2 Timothy 2:15 and found the Darby translation:

Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth. (I wonder if the Roman government was using gerrymandering back in Paul’s day!😊)

Paul was advising Timothy to make sure that he studied the scripture well, searching it thoroughly, and preaching it accurately, being sure to convey the true meaning and heart of God’s Word whenever he preached. “Cut it in a straight line!”, Paul admonished the young pastor. 

I’ll bet that if Paul was writing a letter to today’s church, he would expound upon what he had written to Timothy. He might say, “When the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice brings conviction of sin to your heart, don’t let your pride drive you to do a scripture search to prove Him wrong! When you trample over some of God’s precepts in your search for verses that will make you feel better about your sin, what you’ll end up with is an idea of God that doesn’t reflect our One True God. Sometimes God will use someone in your life to admonish you with the truth of His word. If you find yourself responding with, “Well, my God isn’t like that!”, be certain that your idea of God is a reflection of the God in the Bible, rather than a reflection of the god your gerrymandered scriptures have created!” (Paul wasn’t known for mincing words!) 

More and more I’m understanding that when I read the scriptures, I need to humbly invite the Holy Spirit to illumine my heart and use His Word to show me those things that He wants to remove. As my love for Jesus grows, my desire to please Him does too. 

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word, which over the years has become my treasure. Forgive me for those times when I have skimmed over truth, not allowing Holy Spirit to use it to examine my heart and show me my sin. Whether I want to admit it or not, ignoring Your conviction only hardens my heart. Yet once I’ve acknowledged my sin to You, there is the sweetness of relief and joy as I experience Your forgiveness! Help me Lord, to never again toss away scriptures that I’ve willfully determined don’t apply to me! Help me to be Your approved worker so I won’t ever have to be ashamed for gerrymandering Your word of truth! Thank You for Your love and patience with me, Abba. I love You!