II Timothy 2: 15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.”  Another translation starts with, “Study to show yourself approved.”  And, another one is, “Be diligent to present yourself to God.”  In every medical profession, annual continuing education is required for a person to be licensed.  Verification of the required number of hours must be submitted each year to the licensing board.  Why?  It is needed for the licensee to be kept up to date by studying the latest information on how to practice their profession and impact those whom they serve.

It is not different for the spiritual leader and man of God.  He must study God’s Word to find the latest truths that God has in store for him.  Each time we read from the Bible, we see something new and applicable to those whom we serve and lead.  As our Scripture states today, it is not just a head knowledge but a working application of rightly handling God’s Word.  We are to build our lives on His Word and build His Word into our lives.  This is how we are approved as a leader who is not ashamed.  We are never ashamed when we lead from the truth of God’s Word.

Many licensing boards in the medical profession require a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education a year for a license renewal.  So, the question for us is how many hours of continuing education from God’s Word do we accumulate each year.  The more hours we have, the more we know about our God and what He wants to accomplish through us.