Have you ever dissected something? High school biology? College anatomy? Did you know you can dissect Scripture, too? I’m not talking about the heavy–duty dissection a theology graduate engages. This is a lighter approach – dissecting something meaningful.
Here is a peek at what a Scripture application might look like after dissecting it. The dissection steps are listed at the end of this article.
TOPIC: Sometimes, it seems impossible to live a credible Christian life in such a messed-up world.
SCRIPTURE: 2 Pet. 1:3-4 is a powerful passage that gives hope for this very topic.
Whole Section
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life – through our knowledge of Him – who called us by his own glory and goodness. – Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, – so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, – having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Phrase By Phrase Interaction
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life
This phrase states clearly that you have already been given absolutely everything you need to live a godly life. You lack nothing and have a complete guarantee from God of His unlimited divine power. Taken seriously, this means: the power that created everything out of nothing is yours for daily life issues. Perhaps you haven’t found this power yet or are unsure how to apply it each day.
Do you live applying this power to your daily situations?
through our knowledge of Him
Your access to this amazing power comes by getting to know Jesus. How does that work, exactly? To know Christ takes intentional, on-going investment on your part. Draw close to God in your heart, take truths from His Word into your mind, then apply His Word in your choices. With all your heart, love God who first loved you. This helps you know God, which is a very special privilege and satisfying adventure.
Getting to know God is a bit like grocery shopping when you are hungry for a good meal. You go to the grocery and fill your cart with lots of goodies. Then you go home and assimilate your goodies into a feast. But shortly after you eat that wonderful meal, you get hungry again. So you go back to the store, load up again, and head home to create another nutritional meal.
Are you hungry for God? Do you load up your cart each day? Are you getting to know God more?
who called us by his own glory and goodness
Jesus has called you to Himself in two ways. First, by His glory. By His very essence – who He is. The big words are:
- Omnipresent – God is everywhere.
- Omniscient – God is all-knowing.
- Omnipotent – God is all-powerful.
Even in a broken world, there is still so much evidence of God’s glory – everywhere!
The second way God calls you to Himself is by His goodness. Because He is good, everything He does is colored and flavored with goodness. He intends to pour His goodness into and through your life.
Are you responding to God’s gracious invitation to live inside His glory and goodness?
Through these he has given us His very great and precious promises
Through His glory and goodness – “who He is” and “what He does” – God makes promises. Listen to His strong words that describe His own promises – very great and precious. God releases power and value into your life as you trust Him.
Are God’s promises your greatest treasure? Do you share His opinion that they are very great and precious?
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature
This phrase is stunning. Through God’s very great and precious promises you can literally participate in God’s divine nature. Incredible! God wants to share His very essence with you so you know Him intimately. His promises enable this to happen. As you trust and obey His Word, you literally participate in His life.
Have you begun to live inside God’s divine nature?
having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
You become and remain holy by the precious blood of Jesus, which helps you escape corruption, punishment, and death. Jesus forgives your sins as you trust Him for this. He loves you so much. Your part is to “work out your salvation with awe and reverence” – bringing everything you think, say, and do into conformity and alignment with God’s ways. (Phil. 2:12; Eph. 1:11)
Are you letting God’s Word transform your life?
Dissection Steps and Conclusion
Here are the steps that help you dissect Scripture and apply it to your life in a way that makes God’s Word come alive.
- First, pray that God will open your understanding as you read His Word.
- Then read and ask good questions (who, what, when, where, why, and – how does this apply to me).
- Meditate – picture in your mind how you can apply what you discover to your daily life. For steps 2 and 3, you might use a journal to write out your thoughts.
- Determine to obey God as you visualize that Scripture applied to your life.
- Memorize the verse if it is short, or at least the concept. Write the application in your journal.
- Pray again that God will bless the Scripture to your life as you begin to apply it.
- Finally, do what you learned and trust God to change you as you obey.
Dissecting Scripture and applying it to your life every day makes God’s Word come alive. It draws you closer to God and helps you know Him. You can do this. Partner with God for Intentional Living.
