I bought a new car a few weeks ago. I wanted something just a bit bigger, and it seemed like the right time to take the plunge. One of the things the salesman handed me as I walked out the door with keys in hand was a ginormous owner’s manual. It amazes me how detailed the manual is, giving you specific instructions on not only the strange button you find on the side of your console but how to properly put your car in Drive. If I need the owner’s manual to learn how to put it in Drive, I’m not sure I should be buying a car just yet!
As Christians, we also have an owner’s manual! When we accept Christ as Lord of our life, we have the Bible that teaches us about how to live for God every day. It teaches us seemingly small things like being kind. It teaches us big things like how to apply appropriate church discipline. It reminds us that to love the world means we hate the Father. It also gives us reminders of what can happen when we look back after God has taken us out of the ungodly situation (pillar of salt, anyone?).
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
He also says in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The Bible is meant to guide us and shape us. It’s God letter to us, rich in wisdom. When we read it daily, it’s a direct line to our Heavenly Father. Even when there’s something tough to read or hard to swallow, it’s our Father giving us the right way to live our lives. We need no other book! It loves. It corrects. It chastens. It guides. It heals.
As we read our Bibles this week, I pray that we hear God’s voice in the scriptures. And if this will be the first time you’ve picked up your Bible in a while, I pray that God’s love pours over you in words. If you’re looking for a place to start, try starting with the book of John. It will remind that you God is love. And that love allowed Him to become a sacrifice for you so that you might know what eternity in heaven is.
~Erin
Iron Porch 