Practical Application

I sometimes read the scriptures from the perspective of the question of what the practical application is. Why is it important for me to know this? How am I to use this information? What difference is this knowledge supposed to make in my life?

The answer to these questions is, at times, "It's not," "You're not," and "None," as it was with the ancient prophet who was shown countless worlds and then told that he only really needed to focus on this one. Sometimes, insights are more "interesting" than they are practical. But of course, different people need different messages at different times, so the scriptures record countless messages, knowing that, whoever you are, and wherever you are at this point in your life, there's something in this book that applies to your situation, whatever it may be.

I don't know the practical application of what we read in scripture study tonight. Perhaps there is currently no way for me to practically apply what we read in the scriptures tonight. Maybe God has other things He wants me to focus on right now instead. All we can do is read the many messages God has shared with us and listen for the Holy Spirit to tell us how (and if) we should apply them.

Not all messages apply to all people at all times. Discernment is needed to determine which message(s) we should apply at any given time, and how we should apply them.