A young man stated, "When my children were young, I purchased them bikes during the Christmas season. My task was to simply assemble the bikes. As I reviewed the instructions, I decided that I could get the job done quicker by using my own wisdom and ingenuity. After all, I received a doctorate in education so I’m definitely smart enough to assemble a kid’s bike.

Eight hours later, my companion came to the door, looked at the bike with only the handlebars attached to the frame and offered some very good advice. "Honey, why don’t you follow the directions." I didn’t argue with her but went immediately to the directions. Why? Because the bicycle manufacturer knew more about his product than I did.

Many Christians are defeated because they insist on living their lives by their own standards rather than following the guidelines for living laid down by God in His Word. If believers are to be successful, then they must follow the instructions of Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart from thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua: 1-8).

While your Bible may be one of many in your bookcase, it is far greater than any ordinary book. The writer of Hebrews described it as "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews: 4-12). It is the word of the Living God. The sorting process of the Word separates our perverted thinking from our pure thoughts. It divides the soul from the Spirit, the righteous from the carnal.

According to Timothy, a Higher Power inspired every word in the Bible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"(II Timothy 3:16-17). The term "inspired" means "breathed out." Therefore, the instructions we receive through the scriptures are actually what God breathed out.

The Bible is a written account of what God has given to us concerning him. Let me assure you that there is no task to which God has called us, no situation in which he would place us, no question he would ask of us, and no test in which he might challenge us, that is not addressed within the Scriptures. One writer described the scriptures as " the exhalation of God." When God exhales, things happen. This is how our world was formed.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he told him that the Old Testament was sufficient for every aspect of his ministry. He warned the younger Timothy to admonish the instructions he had received from his elders. "Hold fast the form of sound words, Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation…" (II Timothy 1-13; I Timothy 4-12).

Our words are powerful. The scripture declares that they can justify or condemn us. No matter how much authority our words may have over our lives, none are more important and life changing than the Word of God.

Abraham, Jeremiah, Job, Noah, Moses, and Paul were all successful men, but their accomplishments were not attained apart from following the instructions set out by their God. They suffered many afflictions but embraced the truth of God’s Word and fainted not. "Now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11-16).

The Bible has also been described as "God’s owner’s manual for human beings." First, it teaches us that we were made in the image of our Father. We are also instructed to search the scriptures to learn more about our Creator and his attributes. We must familiarize ourselves with how he handled the difficulties of life so that we, like He, can emerge victorious. We are God’s chosen, created in his likeness, and left with perfect instructions which will not only assist us in this life, but will help us to obtain life everlasting.

 

By Naomi J. Brown