Part 2. A Lamp –The Light Shines in Darkness (6)

Part 2. A Lamp –The Light Shines in Darkness (6)          

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

              God’s Word − Read it, Study it, Know it, Live it.    

Today I want to resume looking at the value of God’s Word, picking up where I left of in my October 27, 2015 post. Today’s post is part 6 as we consider our Bibles being like a lamp, helping us find our way through a dark and treacherous world.

We ended Part 5 looking at Paul’s instructions to his young protégé, Timothy. As you read the following passage, imagine that Paul is talking to you and me. Here we have a good example of God’s Word instructing us through everyday life—as a lamp lighting the way. Also, take note of the term “word of truth.” We can think of our Bibles as The Word of Truth. Paul said,

¹⁵ Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

¹⁶ Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. ¹⁷ This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. ¹⁸ They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

¹⁹ But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” 2 Timothy 2:15-19 NLT

 

This passage, verse 15 in particular, should be especially meaningful to anyone God calls to be a teacher. For the teacher, this verse contains the heart of his or her ministry gift. All believers are to study and understand God’s Word, but the teacher will be held to a higher level of accountability in this regard. Teaching the Holy Scriptures to others is a high privilege and a huge responsibility, not to be taken lightly.

But this does not let those, without the teacher gift/calling, off the hook, because every person has a teacher type influence on someone−our own family members as well as those we encounter in the market place.

Continuing at verse 16, Paul instructs that we should “avoid worthless, foolish talk.” The New International Version says, “Avoid godless chatter” –the New King James Version, “profane and idle babblings.” Instead we should adhere to the Word of Truth. 

How can we do so if we don’t know what is the Word of Truth? Here’s a simplistic example: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” It seems that a number of people have been told, and believe, that those words are Scripture.  Though good hygiene is a desirable thing, this is not a quote from the Bible. Believing that it is, reflects ignorance of God’s Word.

Here are Jack Hayford comments on 2 Timothy 2:15: “The Bible−God’s inspired Word−is the only conclusive source of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding concerning ultimate realities. It is a fountainhead of freeing truth (John 8:32) and a gold mine of practical principles (Ps. 19:10), waiting to liberate and/or enrich the person who will pursue its truth and wealth.  Thus, Paul’s instruction to “be diligent … a worker” has been applied by serious Christians through the centuries as a directive to study the Word of God. The only way to healthy, balanced living is through the ‘rightly dividing’ (Greek orthotomounta, literally, ‘cutting straight’) of God’s Word. Such correct, straight-on application of God’s Word is the result of diligent study. The test calls us beyond casual approaches to the Scriptures, telling us to refuse to suit the Bible to our own convenience or ideology.”

“In his earlier words (I Tim. 4:13) Paul also told Timothy, ‘Give attention to reading [God’s Word],’ but now he emphasizes studying like a ‘worker’ (from Greek ergon—‘toil, effort’).  Ps. 119:11 urges memorizing of the Word of God as a mighty deterrent against sin. Memorizing the Scripture also provides an immediate availability of God’s ‘words’ as a sword, ready in witnessing and effective in spiritual warfare (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17). (Is. 55:10, 11/ 2 Tim.3:16).”  Jack Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Bible, Kingdom Dynamics, p 1854.

 

In writing his epistle to Timothy, Paul was keenly aware that Timothy needed to study and know God’s Word in order to minister to others and to stand firm against unrighteous temptations and behaviors (2 Timothy 2:22-26). It was imperative that Timothy have this divine illumination guiding his personal life and his ministry. He needed to teach these same principles to others and set a good example, even as a young man. Paul instructed Timothy in effective servant leadership, knowing that this was the example set by Christ, Himself.

   

Truth is found in the Word of God and knowledge of God’s Word will help us stay on God’s virtuous path, illuminating the way, helping us recognize and avoid snares of the devil. As I said in an earlier post the devil, has a plan, or we may call it a plot, for our lives. But following the ways of our Lord, as clearly defined in His Word, will help us avoid his snares and even captivity.    

 

Have you devised a Bible reading/study plan for this New Year? If you want to do so and don’t know where to start, you might learn Jesus. Begin reading the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—then on to Acts. In addition to that, try to read through the book of Proverbs. It has 31 chapters. If you read a chapter a day, you’ve read the whole thing in a month. You might find it stimulating to repeat that each month or every other month.

 

 

On the Internet, Bible Gateway has several Bible reading plans you can take a look at> https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/?version=NIV

 

No matter the plan you choose, start now. It’s okay to start small, but let it be today. One more thing, PRAY—ask God to help you focus and lead you in His Book. You will be causing Him to smile. Go ahead, smile back.

I pray God will bless you richly as you get to know Him better through His Word.

A Lamp – Are you walking in the light or in the dark? (4)

Part 2.  A Lamp - Are you walking in the light or in the dark? (4)          

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

              You know− Read it, Study it, Know it, Live it.  

What do you know about the great prophet Isaiah?

Many know him as the one who said, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

He also said quite a bit about light and our need for the light that comes from God. He besought God’s people to turn from their pagan ways and live in the illumination provided by the Word of God that was available to them at that time—around 700-690 B.C.

Also God spoke directly to Isaiah, giving clear direction for His people, the children of Israel. Under God’s authority, Isaiah declared God’s displeasure with His people.

Early on in Isaiah’s life of prophesying, he pleaded, O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5).

Had God’s people made the choice to heed His plea, the course of their history would have been much different. They would have averted the disastrous consequences of their decision to walk in darkness rather than light.

Do you believe our own nation will face disastrous consequences for the ways we have turned away from God in recent years?

God had guided the Israelites through history and wanted to continue to do so. Had they obeyed the commands of the Lord, they would not have been overtaken and many brutally killed by their enemies. Their children would not have been carried away into Babylon, repeopled, and made into eunuchs and slaves.

Note that the terrible future, that awaited the Jews, did not come on them by the hand of their Heavenly Father, but by their own choice to walk away from His protective hand. In doing so, they walked right into the brutal hands of powerful enemies. They choose not to walk in the light of the Words of their Lord.

For many years God’s nation of chosen people were scattered, living under the thumb and rule of others—the very enemies of their God. Nonetheless, the world, and all of mankind, can be grateful that throughout this terrible time in Israel’s history, there was a remnant, though scattered, that remained in God’s light, faithful to God and the Words He had spoken.

Isaiah was one of those, as was Jeremiah, Daniel, the three Hebrew sons who survived the fiery furnace—and others as well.

We can learn useful lessons from those who’ve gone before us. God had shown them the way. He had provided the light for their path of life. In our own age, He has illuminated our way with His instruction manual for living, the Bible, God’s Word of Truth.

Look at the opening words of the Apostle John’s Gospel. He declares: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).

John is telling us that Jesus is the expressed Word of God—the eternal and ultimate expression of God and is the light that no darkness can overtake. This gives us reason enough to dance and shout with unspeakable joy!




Photo by Joshua Hibbert

Are you walking in the light provided by your Creator? 

Moving about in the dark or even in dim light is tough going. It’s frustrating and makes it hard to accomplish much. And what we do accomplish is often flawed. We might also get hurt or even killed. 

Let’s commit to walk in the light of the Word of God.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Please feel free add a comment to the conversation if you’d like. 

©Connie Wohlford