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Some Bible studies, in order to encourage participation, invite everyone to look at different passages and share together what they think about them. This has its value as far as participation goes, but we must not forget that the word of God is not open for private interpretation. The Holy Spirit who inspired the authors to write things down had some specific things which He wanted to convey (2Pe.1:20,21). Our own opinions are not important there, but only what God has in mind.

This helps us to keep our focus on hearing from God, as we meditate on His word. Our primary aim must be to receive some more 'life' from God through His word, rather than to increase in knowledge. That is the reason why God has given us His word (2Ti.3:16,17). References to Hebrew and Greek words or to commentaries can all be done with this primary aim before us.

Our primary focus must not be on discovering 'new' things, but hearing from God what we need to hear at different times, whether it is for comfort, encouragement, guidance or correction. Unlike people in Athens who came to listen to Paul, we must not be looking for hearing new things from the Bible as 'revelation' (Ac.17:21). They could be our own fanciful ideas. Such ideas can 'tickle' people's ears but be of no use in sanctification. People who read or hear the word with a view towards growing in godliness develop ears to pick up God's voice, while others around them are looking for entertaining words from gifted speakers (2Ti.4:3). Sometimes it may be a simple word from an 'uneducated' person what God is sharing with us!

Preachers and writers especially are tempted to extract something novel or out of the ordinary from even mundane passages in order to impress others. I remember once hearing a one hour sermon from, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." God is certainly not happy with such gimmicks, and neither will discerning listeners be. The apostle Peter did not mind sharing the same message again, at the risk of people telling him they had already heard it, because he was keen on reminding them again and again lest they forgot (2Pe.1:12).

In one sense, there has never been a time like now when the word of God is freely, widely and easily available for anyone to read. But at the same time, there is a 'famine' for a word from God that will edify and build us up (Am.8:11). Yet, it is still the time of grace when anyone can reach out to God and hear from Him the word that leads to life (Re.22:17). But, to be able to discern between the word from God and the words from man or even deceiving spirits, we must be clear in our mind what we are looking for. We must not be afraid of 'judging' what so-called 'prophets' speak, if we have to preserve ourselves in the truth (1Th.5:20,21). Even doctrines of demons are going around churches and there is no shortage of the opinions of man. In the words of Jesus, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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