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Applying Biblical Lessons to Everyday Life and Practice

Scripture itself commands the application of divine truth to daily conduct. The Psalmist prays, "Teach us so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" [1], while the Preacher describes applying his mind "to know wisdom and to understand the business that is done on earth" [2]. The biblical pattern moves from revelation to response, from hearing to doing, from doctrine to practice.

The Heart as the Locus of Application

Biblical application centers on the heart—the seat of will, affection, and moral agency. God "tries" the heart, "knows" it, "searches" it, "understands the thoughts of" it, and "ponders" it [3]. The issues of life flow from the heart [3], making it the proper target of scriptural instruction. God himself "prepares" the heart, "opens" it, "enlightens" it, and "strengthens" it [3], which means application is not merely human effort but divine enablement. The believer's responsibility is to prepare the heart to God, give it to God, and keep it perfect with God [3].

The Shape of Christian Conduct

Application takes concrete form in specific behaviors. Torrey's catalog of Christian conduct includes believing God, fearing God, loving God, following God, obeying God, and rejoicing in God [4]. It extends to believing in Christ, loving Christ, following Christ's example, and obeying Christ [4]. The pattern is relational before it is regulatory: union with Christ precedes conformity to his commands. Living "to Christ" and "to righteousness" [4] means the entire orientation of daily life shifts from self-reference to Christ-reference.

Discipline and Diligence

Practical application requires sustained effort. Christ himself modeled early rising for devotion [8], and diligence is required in seeking God, obeying him, hearkening to him, striving after perfection, cultivating Christian graces, keeping the soul, keeping the heart, and following every good work [7]. Self-denial—controlling the appetite, abstaining from fleshly lusts, mortifying sinful lusts [6]—is necessary for following Christ and for the triumph of the saints [6]. Matthew Henry observes that believers should attend public worship daily, taking advantage of every opportunity to teach and preach Jesus [10], imitating the apostles who "ceased not" in their work [10].

Affliction as Pedagogy

God uses affliction to teach application. Trials promote God's glory, exhibit his power and faithfulness, teach his will, turn us to God, keep us from departing from him, lead us to seek him in prayer, and convince us of sin [5]. The Preacher's reflection that "the day of death" is better than "the day of one's birth" [9] points to the sobering reality that earthly life is preparation for eternity, and believers must use resources shrewdly in light of that fact [11].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Psalms 90:12 (Geneva1599) — Teach vs so to nomber our dayes, that we may apply our heartes vnto wisdome.”
  2. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 8:16 (LEB) — I applied my mind to know wisdom and to understand the business that is done on earth—how neither day nor night one’s eyes see sleep.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, The — Issues of life are out of -- Pr 4:23. God Tries. -- 1Ch 29:17; Jer 12:3. Knows. -- Ps 44:21; Jer 20:12. Searched. -- 1Ch 28:9; Jer 17:10. Understands the thoughts of. -- 1Ch 28:9; Ps 139:2. Ponders. -- Pr 21:2; 24:12. Influences. -- 1Sa 10:26; Ezr 6:22; 7:27; Pr 21:1; Jer 20:9. Creates a new. -- Ps 51:10; Eze 36:26. Prepares. -- 1Ch 29:18; Pr 16:1. Opens. -- Ac 16:14. Enlightens. -- 2Co 4:6; Eph 1:18. Strengthens. -- Ps 27:14. Establishes. -- Ps 112:8; 1Th 3:13. Should be Prepared to God. -- 1Sa 7:3. Given to God. -- Pr 23:26. Perfect with God. -- 1Ki 8:”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
  9. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ecclesiastes 7:1 cross-references: Ruth 3:14, Job 3:17, Psalms 133:2, Proverbs 15:30, Proverbs 22:1, Proverbs 25:10, Proverbs 27:9, Ecclesiastes 4:2, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Isaiah 56:5, Isaiah 57:1, Luke 10:20, John 13:2, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21, Hebrews 11:2, Hebrews 11:39, Revelation 14:13”
  10. Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 5:42: Daily in the temple - That is at the hours of morning and evening prayer; for they felt it their duty to worship God in public, and to help others to make a profitable use of the practice. Every man that professes Christianity should, in this respect also, copy their conduct: nor can any man be considered to have any religion, let his sentiments be what they may, who does not attend on the public worship of his Maker. They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus - Far from desisting, they became more zealous, yea, incessant, in their work. They took advantage of the publ”
  11. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 16:8: 16:8-9 Jesus seems to commend the manager’s dishonesty, but Jesus’ point is that believers need to use resources shrewdly in preparation for eternity. 16:8 The ways of the world are the opposite of God’s ways. The children of this world use all their resources to get ahead in this world. God’s people do just the opposite (16:9). • The children of the light are the people of God (see John 12:36; 1 Thes 5:5).”
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