It's Not a Self-Help Manual

Day 28: The Manual of the People of the Resurrection

 

I am pretty stubborn and prideful a lot of the time, but one thing that I WILL do is refer to the directions as I start anything new. I see it as a time saver. I'd much rather spend 5 minutes glancing through the directions than even one minute of fumbling like a lost goober. Part of this is also sinful, I have hint of vanity for at least looking like I know what I'm doing (regardless of if I do or not).

 

My ladies and I are wading through Romans now on Thursday mornings and one question in our study this week struck me as interesting. (I know, it was actually two days before Thursday and I was already completing the homework. . .WOW). It says, "Christians are ENTRUSTED with the 'very words of God.'" How honorable that we are to be ENTRUSTED with his Word. Especially if you think of God and the Word being one and the same. AWESOMLELLULIA!

 

Next the study asks the question, "What value and effort does God's Word have in your life?" then it gives verses as thought starters. My responses varied from the Word as a set of directions, to its function of providing training and correction. I actually wrote, in ink, that it is like a "self-help" manual. The problem with writing in ink, is now that I think about that statement all I can do to get rid of it is scribble it out. But I will get rid of it. That is a WRONG ANSWER!

 

God's word is anything but a self-help manual. In fact, it is all about how we will never be able to provide self-help and all about how He already provided the help we need. He has redeemed us and made us whole. There IS direction for living as People of the Resurrection, but even that is only possible through Him. Old Testament or New Testament both are designed to point us to Christ, so that we may believe. It is not incomplete and it is not flawed by man. It is made perfect by a sovereign God.

 

So whether it's marriage, friendship, family, or food; the Bible will provide guidance and He will provide direction that is as far away from my own ability as a manual could possibly be.