Bible League: Living His Word Your word is a lamp to my feetAnd a light to my path. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32 tells us some of the dire consequences of the fall of humanity into sin. People began to "suppress the truth in unrighteousness." They could clearly see God's revelation of Himself through the things He had made, but they chose to suppress or ignore this general revelation to all of humanity. Although they knew God, they did not acknowledge Him as God or relate to Him as God. Rather than worshipping the Creator, they worshipped mere creatures that they had elevated in their own minds to divine status. They thought they were being wise, but they actually became fools. After all, how smart is it to worship mere creatures that you yourself have elevated to divine status? Paul goes on to say, "God gave them up to vile passions." Since they chose to ignore God, He let them go in the misguided directions of their foolish hearts. They began to do every evil thing imaginable. Since they knew God through His general revelation, they also knew His righteous requirements. Indeed, these requirements were ingrained in their very consciences (Romans 2:14-16), but they chose to ignore them as well. One might say that by ignoring God and His requirements they strayed off the pathway of righteousness into the wilderness of wickedness. What's the solution to this deplorable state of affairs? God chose to redirect us back to Himself and to the path of righteousness by giving us another form of revelation, a special revelation over and above His general revelation. This new revelation came in the form of His Word as now written down in the Bible. It is this form of revelation that our verse for today references. Indeed, our verse for today is itself an instance of the Word of which it speaks. We needed a way back to God, a way to get back into a proper relationship to God, and the Word of God in the Bible spells that out. And that's why God's Word is a lamp or a light. It illuminates the path of righteousness so we can find our way back. It lights up the way that leads us to salvation. If you need to find your way back today, there is no better way to begin than by reading God's Word in the Bible. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 13 Leviticus 13 -- Rules for Skin Diseases, Mildew NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 26:20-54 Matthew 26 -- Plot to Kill Jesus; Jesus Anointed at Bethany; Last Supper; Judas' Betrayal; Jesus before Caiaphas; Peter Disowns Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.Insight David's heart was glad—he had found the secret to joy. True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on God's presence within us. Challenge As we contemplate his daily presence, we will find contentment. As we understand the future he has for us, we will experience joy. Don't base your life on circumstances, but on God. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Acts 4:13 And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is his living biography, written out in the words and actions of his people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, "Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;" but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, "He has been with Jesus; he has been taught of him; he is like him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and every-day actions." A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace you: take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God. Imitate him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, "He has been with Jesus." Imitate Jesus in his holiness. Was he zealous for his Master? So be you; ever go about doing good. Let not time be wasted: it is too precious. Was he self-denying, never looking to his own interest? Be the same. Was he devout? Be you fervent in your prayers. Had he deference to his Father's will? So submit yourselves to him. Was he patient? So learn to endure. And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as he did; and let those sublime words of your Master, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," always ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Heap coals of fire on the head of your foe by your kindness to him. Good for evil, recollect, is godlike. Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, "He has been with Jesus." Daily Light on the Daily Path Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.Luke 24:15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Philippians 4:3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Matthew 12:36,37 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. • "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Isaiah 65:6 "Behold, it is written before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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