Sabbath Thought – Becoming an Expert

God generally does not call the wise, the mighty, or the noble, but rather the people that look foolish and weak to the world (1 Corinthians 1:26). We have the examples of Jesus Christ and the Apostles recorded for us along this line. The Jewish authorities dismissed Jesus because one of their rabbi’s didn’t teach Him and His trade was formerly as a carpenter. Likewise, the Apostles were common men with trades like tax collector, fishermen, and nationalists – not religious students trained in the schools of the day. Consequently, the Jewish scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees looked down on them as unlearned.

But shortly after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see the Apostles go out with power as Christ had said they would. The Apostles confounded the Jewish rabbis and authorities because they suddenly had an understanding that surpassed Jewish schools. They quoted scripture, they “argued” against men who believed they had all knowledge, they performed miracles and they spoke with authority.

We know that God’s Holy Spirit worked in them to that end, but do you think they suddenly had a “data-dump” of knowledge that made all of that possible? God can certainly do that, but we can assist God by giving Him something to work with. The prophets of old studied the manuscripts that were already being preserved. During the time of Elijah there were schools to help teach men to preach God’s Word to a wide audience. The Apostles were able to recall scripture through the Holy Spirit (in part) and because they had read and studied the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament).

Considering all of this then, have you ever given thought to becoming an “expert” of God’s Word. What if you were given the responsibility to go before civil authorities to defend your calling? Would you be able to preach the Gospel to a boss, co-worker, or extended family member? What preparation would you need to have in place in order to rise to those circumstances? Would you be considered an expert in God’s Word?

We should be able to. Paul encouraged Timothy to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV). All it takes to become an expert in God’s Word is to study. That seems too simple doesn’t it? An expert is simply someone with special skill or knowledge in a particular field. What most people don’t realize or know, is that all it takes to become an expert in any given topic is to devote 18 minutes a day to that topic. For the sake of this Sabbath Thought, what that means is if you studied your Bible 18 minutes every day, you would know more than 95% of the world’s population. You would be an expert in the truest definition.

That is possible, and along the way we find that we have nothing to be ashamed of because we will know how to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.” If regular reading and studying of God’s Word is not a daily habit for you, this Sabbath is the perfect time to start. We may not be seen as learned by the world, but we will be an expert in handling God’s Word nonetheless. Then, who knows how God might use us?

I wish you a very meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

30 May, 2026