Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Planning”
Our Bible verse for today: “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Check the Bible before you make your plans.”
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the entire Bible and it is also one of my personal favorite Psalms. For 176 verses the writer literally gushes about his love for God’s Word and about how much he depends on it for wisdom and guidance. In verse 105 he writes of how the instructions found in God’s Word actually serve as a lamp that lights the path before him so he can clearly see the best and safest way to go in life.
This Psalm addresses a vital issue for God’s people. The Bible is our clearest form of communication with God. The Bible provides us with many explicit written instructions, as well as many general principles, all designed to provide us with the wisdom and insight we need in order to live in a way that is pleasing to God.
We cannot make good plans and choices that are consistent with God’s will unless we know the Bible and live according to it. And yet, I’m amazed at how many Christians formulate plans and make important decisions without ever bothering to check to see if those plans and choices are consistent with Biblical instruction and principles.
There have been times when someone has made a decision or taken an action that I disagreed with and in my discussions with them about it, I have asked them to please show me the passages from the Bible that support what they have done – only to get a blank look in return. It quickly becomes apparent that it never even occurred to them to check to see what the Bible has to say about this issue before they made their decision.
I’m not just talking about average church members here either. I’ve also had such encounters with Christian leaders. I’m talking about leadership level decisions that have been made about ministry related issues that have appeared to me to be inconsistent with Biblical teaching and principles, and when I asked those leaders for the Biblical support upon which their actions were based, I’ve gotten that blank look in return.
The Bible is amazingly complete. It provides either specific instructions or general principles that apply to every situation in life. There is no decision you will ever have to make that does not have underlying Biblical instructions or principles which apply.
So, know your Bible. Check it before you make your plans and take your actions. If you do, you’ll discover that like the Psalmist says, it will be a lamp for your feet and a light upon your path.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 