A Light to My Path
Four years ago at a church service the pastor quoted a Lifeway Books survey that had been done with long time committed Christians about what they viewed as the key to living the Christian life. The answer was that consistently being in the Word of God was the number one factor to living through all the ups and downs of life with their faith in God strong and growing. I don’t know where things like church attendance or prayer or any other Christian discipline fell in the survey, but I was deeply impressed by what came first.
The following verses speak to some of the claims Scripture makes for itself:
Psalm 19:7-8 “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the soul.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and light on my path.”
After that sermon, I decided to read the entire Bible through again in the following year with the use of a Bible app which had an audio component (so the daily readings could be read aloud to me any time I was able to listen). I finished that year and have committed to doing it every year since, now completing my fourth year in a row. It has become a daily habit I have every intention of continuing until the day I die. But really, the main thing is that I have realized it is the best thing I could possibly do. There is daily strength, help, instruction, wisdom, comfort and every good thing to be found in God’s Word, like the verses above say. Our God, who created us and everything, gave us the instruction manual to life. It is an incredible act of love on His part and should help us know how very much He cares about us.
So as we get ready to begin a new year, I encourage everyone to read God’s Word. I can absolutely guarantee you will never regret it.
Isaiah 55:10-11 “For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my Word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
