God's Instruction Book

Have you ever bought a new electronic devise (i.e., DVD player, Cell phone, Computer)  and after a period of time is stops working properly? What should you do? You should read the instruction book.

I remember a time when I bought a TVGuardian for our television. It's a small box that filters out bad language from television shows and movies. 

Now before I go on, you need to know something about me. I have a tendency to think I know how things work without ever reading the instructions, especially when it comes to putting things together.

So I hooked everything up and thought I had hooked it up correctly, only to find that it wasn't working properly. So I unplugged the wires are reconnected them a different way. It still did not work.

Finally I had to admit that I needed the instruction book.

Well, the Bible is God’s instruction book for our lives.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.  (NASB)

And so, when something is going wrong in our lives, why is it that the last thing we think of is to read the Bible? When, in fact, the Bible contains the instruction we need to live righteous lives.

I remember when our children were little babies, and my youngest is just 17 months, so for her it wasn’t that long ago.

I was always amazed at the listening abilities of my wife. Night after night, child after child, when one of them cried, my wife would be up in a flash. I, on the other hand, never heard a thing. I would often ask my wife, “Where are you going?” and then inevitably, I would hear the baby crying.

And I would always wonder, How does she do that? I didn't hear a thing.

Are you a good listener?


We need to be attentive to the Word of God. We need to read it, listen to it, and apply it to our lives.

The Holy Spirit - Your Divine Gatekeeper

I have been enjoying my study through the book of Nehemiah and have been learning so much. This week as I was studying Nehemiah chapter 7 I was reminded of something I think we all know, but don't often think about.

Nehemiah 7:1 tells us that the walls of Jerusalem have been completed and the doors to the gates have been put in place. Then is says that Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers.

As I thought about the importance of the gatekeepers to the city of Jerusalem, I was reminded that God has given every Christian a gatekeeper to their heart, the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says, Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Isn't that amazing! When you got saved a Divine Gatekeeper took up residence in your heart - the Holy Spirit! This means you don't have to fight temptation in your own power.

When asked about how he responds when the devil tempts him, Martin Luther said, "When the devil comes knocking upon the door of my heart and asks, 'who lives here?' the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, 'Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out, now I live here.' The devil, upon seeing the pierced hands takes flight."

I love the picture that brings to my mind.

1 John 4:4b says, …greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

The next time the devil comes knocking, let the Holy Spirit take on the devil for you!

Don't Just tell me, show Me!

Today is Valentine's Day. A day to tell our friends and family how much we love them. Often times we do this with a card, flowers, a special dinner, or some small gift. 

When I go to choose a card for my wife, I take a long time looking at all the cards and I usually go to several stores before I find the right one. You see, I want to make sure it says, exactly how I feel about her.

I make sure I tell my wife "I love you" often, but I know that she appreciates it more when I show her that I love her. Things like: spending time with her, taking her out for a special dinner occasionally, and helping her around the house. These are some of the things I can do to show my wife how much I love her.

You know, God not only tells us how much He loves us in His Word, but He also showed us how much He loves us.


Romans 5:8 says, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Isn't it amazing that God would die in our place and offer us forgiveness and eternal life!


God likes it when we tell Him that we love Him, but He likes it more when we show Him.


John 14:15 says, If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.


How can you show God that you love Him today?