Application

He is not half a saint who is but a negative saint.... The tree that is barren and without good fruit is for the fire, as well as the tree that brings forth evil fruit. - George Swinnock God commands nothing but what is beneficial. "O Israel, what does the Lord require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, and to keep His statutes, which I command thee this day, for thy good?" To obey God, is not so much our duty as our privilege. - Thomas Watson

Guidelines For Application

1. There is only one interpretation, but there are many applications. While there are many applications, we are not free to make any application we like. The application must be tied to the interpretation. If not, then all of the Bible study is meaningless. If the application runs independent of a proper interpretation, then there is no need of scripture at all. Many people suggest applications that are not derived from the passage itself, this is known as springboard study. This is where we study a passage for a bit, and then springboard off this into whatever subject we want to talk about. Consider the following examples:
   1 Corinthians 13: How would we phrase a principle of application from this text? Perhaps something like, "When I deal with other people I need to do it in love." This is a very broad kind of application and one that has some backing in the command to love our neighbor as ourselves. But consider more specifically, what was the context of this passage?
   We may recognize that it is in the setting of a local body of believers. We may then want to rephrase our application to, "As I interact with other believers this Sunday, I need to show love." This is more specific and flows more naturally from the context of the passage. How else might we refine our application? What was the situation being addressed? We find that chapter 13 is part of a larger discussion of spiritual gifts. And even this is in the larger context of division in the body. Thus we may want to ask ourselves if we look down on others because they are gifted differently. Do we consider them less valuable because they are involved in a different ministry? Perhaps we don't necessarily devalue other, but we have inflated our own value. Asking these kind of questions will drive us to an application that flows from our process of observation and interpretation.
2. The application must first be a change of heart. The Pharisees were not only hearers of the law, they were doers as well. However, their doing proceeded from an unclean heart. Guard against such hypocrisy. In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus teaches on this very thing. Our giving to the poor should come from a genuine heart of love for them. We should not be motivated by a desire for people to see us doing good. Our prayer to God needs to come from the heart of one who desires to commune with his Lord and Savior, and not for the accolades of men.
3. Meditate on the passage. Just as with observation and interpretation, pray for God to reveal those areas of your life that need to be changed in light of the passage under study. One of the primary tasks of the Holy Spirit is our sanctification, and the primary way he accomplishes this is through His word. Do not leave Him out of this final step. Seek His face.
4. Write out the application. This helps to make it concrete. Be specific. Socrates once said, "Generalities are a refuge for a weak mind." Make sure it is a stretch, but is also attainable. Try to make it something that is objective that you can measure progress or success. For example:
   Psalm 40:8, "I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.
   Prayer: Lord forgive me of my arrogance in trying to live my life apart from your word. Forgive me for not treasuring your word as I ought, for taking it for granted. Lord help me to value your commands as more precious than silver. Let me taste the sweetness of your words. God Help me to learn your word and hide it in my heart.
   Application: Resolved to memorize one verse a week for the next two months.
   
   This is a concrete application. It would not do to simply say, "I resolve to value God's word more." That is a good thing to desire, but what would that look like? Memorization is one way that a person can value the word. It should come from a pure heart and one that desires to glorify God. It should challenge you. If you are good at memorizing, maybe you would commit to a verse a day for the next two months. At the same time it should be attainable. Setting time limits helps to avoid procrastination. One could say that they were resolved to memorize 56 verses. But without a time frame attached to it, there is little meaning in such a resolution, just as long as it is done before you die. Make it personal, concrete, a challenge but attainable, and measurable.

Things to Watch Out For

1. Watch out for applying a truth to an area that you are already practicing. I am a person that likes to cross things off my to-do list. Many times the day contains tasks that are unexpected, and therefore not on my list. Sometimes I will spend all day addressing these unexpected items. It is irritating to get to the end of the day and not be able to cross anything off my list. So I will sometimes write down the other tasks that I did during the day for the sole purpose of crossing them off my list. The same kind of temptation is there for Bible study as well. It is tempting to "apply" a truth to one part of your life that you are already practicing. In this way you can officially cross it off as "applied."
   This is not to say that an area of you life where you are practicing God's truth cannot be improved upon. Indeed, if one is able to apply a truth to his life at an even deeper level than what he is currently practicing, then this should not be shunned. The aim is to improve one's walk with God, not to simply cross it off our to-do list.
2. Beware of justifying your current state and thus remain the same. It is an uncomfortable thing to feel God's word penetrate your spirit and there is a tendency to try to alleviate that pain by justifying where you are. Since sin rarely effects only one person, the application often involves other people. Dealing with other people can be difficult, but can the reason for not dealing with it be any other than one fearing men more than one fears God?
3. Do not confuse an emotional experience with an act of the will. One may experience a great sense of grief over their sin. One may experience a tremendous sense of peace in God's promise. Such feelings are a wonderful part of the Christian life, and they should be there. However, proper application will move beyond just the feeling to a determination of the will. Reflecting on a passage on the bride of Christ, one may feel great love for her and desire to show that love in a tangible way. However, one should be resolved to love the church even when that feeling is gone.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Let our lives be such that our words do not fall on deaf ears!