Authentic Bible Study From James MacDonaldSample

Size It Up Part 3 We’re focusing on being an authentic Christian by developing the discipline of personal Bible study. We’ve learned the Bible is a fire. It’s a sword and a hammer. It’s a seed. It’s both milk and meat. But it’s so much more. God’s Word is also a light. How many reading this are standing over milk that’s been spilled, plans that went south, and bad decisions that were made? And why were those bad decisions made? Because they were made in darkness. The Word of God wasn’t consulted. God’s Word is a lamp to our feet. It’s like a little lamp. That means it shows us the next step. But not just the next step, but also where am I going with my life? What is my life to be about? What matters most? God’s Word is a lamp to my feet. And it’s a light for my path. No more stumbling. No more wandering and walking down dead-ends and getting ripped off. The Bible is a light. And then I’ve experienced this last one so frequently. God’s Word is a mirror. This is from James 1:23-24, “For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in the mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once he forgets what he looks like.” If you open the Word of God only once and do nothing different, you’re like a person who looks in the mirror and says, "I have mustard on my face. I should probably take that off. And I will . . . tomorrow." That’s a foolish person. That’s a hearer-only of the Word. The doer is a person who allows God’s Word to be a mirror, allowing it to reveal who they really are. And then they act upon it. What are you? Prayer – Father, thank You for this great privilege You’ve given us to call upon Your name and to dig into Your Word. We confess too often we have neglected Your Holy Word and fattened ourselves with things that don’t satisfy. Meet us in Your Word this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.