The first time I got behind the wheel of a car I was scared. I was sixteen and had just passed the initial test to get my learner’s license. You know the one. The test that you take after reading and studying the driver’s manual. I’m good at reading and studying and taking tests. I wasn’t too worried about the test. But I was terrified of actually driving! My mom, however, insisted. So, once we were most of the way home and on the less travelled gravel road leading to our house, my mom got out of the car and made me get into the driver’s seat. I didn’t want to but couldn’t get out of it. So, I settled into the driver’s seat and listened to my mom explain what to do. Eventually I took the car out of park and slowly put my foot on the gas and we began to inch forward. At probably about 5km/hour. I was too scared to go any faster. My poor mom! What normally took about five minutes to drive took more like twenty. I laugh now at the ridiculousness of it. But in that moment, it wasn’t so funny! I was fine with studying the rules of the road and the theory of it all but when it came time for the rubber to meet the road (literally) I was not so confident.
In Bible study, application is where the rubber meets the road. And I have to admit that, like that first driving experience, I feel much more comfortable with studying the Bible than I do with applying the Bible. Application is where the theory turns into actual practice. This is where I actually have to do something. And sometimes I’m way too slow at this. I know what the Bible says and what it means and I have a pretty good idea of what I’m supposed to do but actually doing it is much harder. Why is that? Why is it so hard?
As I sit here and ponder this question some roadblocks to transformation come to mind. They stand in the way of the transformation that can come from reading, studying and applying the Bible. Can I share them with you? Here are six roadblocks that have stood in my way as I’ve studied the Bible and attempted to put it into practice.
I resist the lordship of Jesus. Jesus is Lord. That means that He is the authority in my life. He has the right to my life. But sometimes I’m not willing to submit to Him. I want to do my own thing. I don’t want to follow his leading. I use the excuse that what he’s asking me to do is too far out of my comfort zone and too hard. I conveniently forget that he has promised to be with me always, no matter how hard things are or how far he takes me out of my comfort zone. I refuse to submit to Him and do my own thing.
I let pride win. I’d rather save face than acknowledge my sin, failures and weakness. I’d rather prove I can do it on my own than admit my need for God or for others. Pride rears its ugly head and humility cowers in the corner.
I don’t set myself up for success. I neglect the details. I know what to do but don’t have an actual plan for how I’m going to do it. Identifying the specific action steps I’m going to take, setting a time and place to do it and recruiting the help of friend to check in and pray is left undone and the likelihood of success diminishes.
My motives are misguided. I respond out of guilt and shame rather than repentance and thanksgiving. I listen to the condemnation rather than the grace. I forget how much God loves me and that He has rescued me through Christ and is now working to restore me to His image. And the voice that says, “You’re not good enough. You’ll never get it right” drowns out His gentle invitation to repent, be forgiven and rejoice.
I don’t exercise my will. I get lazy. I become complacent and just let things slip. I don’t like to admit that sometimes change is hard work. It requires discipline and practice. And like starting a new workout, it means feeling the soreness of muscles not often used.
I try to do it on my own. I rely on my own strength and willpower rather than depending on the guidance and power of Christ in me. I neglect the Holy Spirit and walk un-empowered. I don’t draw on the support and encouragement of the body of Christ either. I forget that other parts of the body can help and that God intends for me to grow in community.
These are roadblocks that get in my way when it comes to applying the truths of scripture to my life. So how do I remove them? I’m not sure they will ever be completely removed in this lifetime. But in order to move them just a bit more out of way today, I confess my stubbornness and pride. I say “Not my will, but yours be done, Lord.” I choose to die to the lazy and complacent flesh in order to live empowered by the Spirit. I preach the gospel to myself so I don’t forget. And I walk with my sisters and brothers in Christ recognizing that I need their help. And tomorrow, I do the same again. And the next day. And the next day. And the next day. Until that glorious day when we shall stand before the Lord transformed.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:18-25)