SPACEPETS: Probe the Bible with These Questions
BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 7, 2014
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22 NLT)
Christian meditation means thinking about Scripture. You meditate on Scripture in the same way a cow chews her cud: by chewing on it and chewing on it and chewing on it.
The “probe-it” method of Bible study is a great way to do that. When you use this method, you probe the text with questions, almost like a jackhammer. To help you do that, I’ll share with you one of the strangest acrostics I’ve ever used: SPACEPETS. Each letter in the phrase is the first letter of a key word in a question you ask of God’s Word.
- Is there a SIN to confess? Does God’s Word make you aware of something you need to make right with God?
- Is there a PROMISE to claim? There are more than 7,000 promises in God’s Word. Ask yourself if the passage you’ve read contains a universal promise. Ask whether you’ve met all the conditions of the promise. Every promise has a premise!
- Is there an ATTITUDE to change? Is there something you need to think about differently? Do you need to work on a negative attitude, worry, guilt, fear, loneliness, bitterness, pride, apathy, or ego?
- Is there a COMMAND to obey? Is there a command you need to obey, no matter how you feel?
- Is there an EXAMPLE to follow? Are there positive examples to follow or negative examples to avoid?
- Is there a PRAYER to pray? Paul, David, Solomon, Elijah, and Isaiah, among others, pray in the Bible. You can use their prayers and know that they’ll be answered because they’re in the Bible and in God’s will.
- Is there an ERROR to avoid? It’s wise to learn from experience, and it’s even wiser to learn from the experience of others! We don’t have time to make all the mistakes ourselves. So what can you learn from the mistakes of those in Scripture?
- Is there a TRUTH to believe? Often, we’ll read something in Scripture that we can’t do anything about. We simply have to believe what it says about God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the past, the future, Heaven, Hell, or other topics in the Bible.
- Is there SOMETHING for which to praise God? You can always find something in a passage you can be grateful to God for, like something God has done or protected you from.
Every question in this list has a verb in it; there is something you can do associated with them. Write them in your Bible or put them on a notecard you keep with your Bible. They’ll help you be “doers of the Word” every time you meditate on the Bible.
Talk It Over
- After reading about the probe-it method, go back to the Scripture you read yesterday for your quiet time and apply this method to that passage. What new truths do you discover?
- What promise from God are you leaning on today?
- What commands has God given you through your Bible study that you need to obey?
Heaven's Currency
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
"And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive."
(Matthew 21:22, AMP)
(Matthew 21:22, AMP)
TODAY'S WORD:
In the natural realm, we exchange money for the things we want and need. But in the spiritual realm, faith is what we exchange. The Bible tells us that when you pray, have faith, and you will receive it. Faith moves mountains. Faith pleases God. Faith is what opens spiritual doors. What is faith? It’s believing in God and His goodness. It’s knowing that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith is believing that the promises of God are true. It’s obeying His Word. Faith causes you to act.
Where does faith come from? It’s a gift from God. Everyone is given a measure of faith, but we have to steward it and help it grow. Romans tell us that faith grows by hearing the Word of God. The more you hear the Word of God, the more your faith will grow. The more your faith grows, the more you will see the promises of God come to pass in every area of your life. Remember, faith is heaven’s currency. So invest your faith by investing time in His Word!
Where does faith come from? It’s a gift from God. Everyone is given a measure of faith, but we have to steward it and help it grow. Romans tell us that faith grows by hearing the Word of God. The more you hear the Word of God, the more your faith will grow. The more your faith grows, the more you will see the promises of God come to pass in every area of your life. Remember, faith is heaven’s currency. So invest your faith by investing time in His Word!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, thank You for giving me a measure of faith. Thank You for the gift of Your Word which is a light to my path and helps me grow in You. I choose to set my heart and mind on Your Word and listen as You speak Your truth to my heart in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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