Written For Our Instruction

Last year, Google reported that there are 129, 864, 880 published books in the entire world. This doesn't include newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, and the like! This cannot possibly account for the personal writings of mankind that go "unpublished". And, I'm sure that there are millions more unaccounted for. Have you ever wondered what compels people to write things down??? Let's think about that for a minute. Do your children say and do the funniest things? I have often wanted to journal all of the hilarious antics of this crazy family I live with. Have you ever been on a particularly wonderful family vacation?? Did you ever have a desire to want to write it down, or make a slideshow, or something? What about an experience that was less fun; one that was more tragic? Maybe God showed up for you in a way that was so powerful, you just want to shout it from the rooftops!? Have you ever learned a lesson so valuable from an experience (good or bad) that you wanted it to somehow be recorded? These are the things that roll through my mind as I read Paul's words to the Corinthians.

1 Cor 10:11 "Whatever was written in earlier times is for our instruction." Paul had the opportunity to remind those around him that God is working His plan, even back at the Red Sea....even back on the ark......even back in the garden. It's all connected. The miracles, the tragedies, the victories, the failures.....it was all written with eternity in mind. And even today, we read these timeless truths and learn! Reading through the Old Testament this year is a rich blessing beyond measure. Digging deeper into the active word of God always reaps reward. God will grow the seed and teach us to accomplish His work. It is up to each of us to seek and to learn from this instruction. "Therefore let he who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall!"

Wisdom and understanding are two very different things. People write things down for many reasons: sharing their opinion, for family heritage, to teach subjects, encouraging through fictional events, historical value, etc. God's word is written for one purpose: His glory. There is a wealth of wisdom in God's word. It is available in print for us to read. Understanding the Word, however, is another thing entirely. For God to be glorified through us, we must learn to apply the wisdom to our lives. We must pursue a relationship with the author to truly glean from instruction. God will be glorified. He created and sustains this universe. He is no ordinary author. His words are alive! He speaks and the world comes into existence! He teaches us that the tongue has power of life and death. Do you think words are important to Him? Should they be important to us? These three chapters in today's portion of scripture hold countless truths to eternity.

The recorded Word of God is different than any book ever written. Ever. "It is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." God's word is filled with things that are written for our instruction! Something tells me, this isn't a book you're supposed to read only once.