Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” You always want to see where you’re going? The Psalmist just told you how. God’s Word is meant to lead us, guide us, and comfort us, and so much more. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is God’s letter of love to help us wind our way through the jungle of life and on into eternity. Say you had to go on a prolonged journey, but before you left you wrote your spouse a detailed letter telling them how to do certain things, handle the finances, raise the kids, and how much you loved them. Then after a couple years you return to find your house foreclosed, your kids running amok, and your spouse with a different partner. In total dismay, you ask how could this happen, didn’t you read my letter? They reply, the letter was always on the mantle, I just never opened it! Too many people that claim the name of Jesus, leave His letter lying around unopened. Don’t set unrealistic goals, but make it a priority to read His Word every day. Don’t just listen to pastors and TV evangelists, read it for yourself. Don’t simply accept what you hear from others, look it up and make sure that’s what God really said. He will speak to you through His Word. You’ll be amazed how little your feet will stumble as they are going down that lighted path!
What should be the first thing anyone thinks of when they hear the word Christians? Of course, followers of Christ, but what is the first thing they think about the followers? That they are kind, loving, and giving or self-righteous, judgemental, and fundamental? Sadly, too often it is the latter. Then we need to change those opinions and become world evangelists. Not the whole world but the world around us! To help you do that, read 2 Peter 1:5-7 and follow his instructions to grow in grace.
Take your faith in the Lord and add virtue or moral excellence to it. Then grow in knowledge, study His word, know what He expects of you and what you are talking about. (zeal without knowledge is fanaticism) Next, develop your self control and then add patience. Peter knew what he was talking about, he didn’t just randomly make a list. It’s much easier to have patience when you already have self control. Now, being built up in those first five steps, you can display godliness as you show brotherly kindness and brotherly love to others. Obviously, to win the world to Christ we have to show them love and kindness but we must be first showing it to our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If the world doesn’t see us loving one another, why would they believe we would love them? Make it a priority, in all things, to follow Jesus’ example and love the unlovable. Yeah, He loves even us!
You have to admit it, sometimes it really galls you to see people that you know lie, cheat, steal, and are hypocrites prosper. When they are given promotions, finances, and honor … and you aren’t. Isn’t there any justice in this world? Yes there is! You think the Lord doesn’t know What’s going on? King David was well acquainted with the world’s injustice. Take to heart what he wrote in Psalm 37. “Do not fret because of evil doers, nor be envious of workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass …” We want to see justice served swiftly, but the Lord is in charge and His timing is always perfect. So, how do we handle our angst? “Trust in the Lord and do good … Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Worried no one will know what a hard and honest worker you are? “Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as light and your justice as the noonday.” Don’t worry about all the crooked people in the world, the Lord will deal with them in due time. You need to follow close to the Lord and before you know it, you’ll be in His spotlight!
“One is the loneliest number you can ever do.” “Look at all the lonely people, where do they all come from?” Without trying too hard, how many songs about loneliness easily pop into your head? Loneliness is a universal problem that isn’t unique to anyone, we all have experienced it in one form or another; the loss of a long time spouse, the breakup of a romantic relationship, loss of a best friend, a close relative, being alone in a strange city. We all know that feeling or fear of being alone, but we don’t have to! Joseph Scriven didn’t write “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by accident. While Jesus was here, He experienced all of our emotions; love, joy, temptation, sadness, fear, betrayal, loneliness. Think of His words on the cross, “Father why have you forsaken Me?” I shudder to think of the utter loneliness He felt at that moment. He can relate to anything you may be going through. He loves you and will never let you down. You have but to trust Him and turn to Him and He will be there for you. Keep your eyes on Him and then take your eyes off yourself and get involved. When steeped in loneliness, it sometimes is hard to take that first step, but looking outward not inward is the answer. Think about how you can serve in the church. You’re a part of the body and the body needs your help. There are home Bible studies that have a seat waiting just for you. There are charitable organizations that are always looking for volunteers. If your faith is in Jesus, you can go out in confidence, knowing His loving hand will be there upholding you every step of the way and you know you are not alone!
Who wasn’t afraid of the dark as a young child? Who isn’t a little leery going into a dark building alone as an adult? Who likes to walk down dark alleys in a big city at midnight? Most bad things happen under the cover of darkness. Illegal things, immoral things, indecent things, all under the sinister smiles of “the rulers of the darkness of this age.” But, we are children of light! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” As believers we are full of His light and we are told not to hide that light but to share it, to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven! Did you know there is no darkness in heaven? Look at Rev 22:5, “And there shall be no night there. They need no lamp or light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.” The Lord will light eternity for us and He will light our pathway now. As the old hymn goes, “I saw the light, I saw the light, no more darkness, no more night!” Let His light shine through you to your family, your brothers and sisters in Christ, your neighbors. Let His light drive their shadows away. Stay plugged into Him, go out in boldness, and don’t be afraid of the dark anymore!
Esther was a simple, young girl, orphaned by the death of her parents, raised by her uncle, living in captivity in Babylon. A simple girl, but gorgeous! Her beauty, and obviously her charming personality, led King Ahaesurus to choose her to become his queen. When Haman plotted to annihilate all the Jews in captivity, she was able to use her position and intervene and prevent that from happening and as her uncle pointed out to her, she had been prepared for “such a time as this.” Joseph was rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison, only to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, but as he wisely told his brothers years later, “you meant evil against me but God meant it for good.” You have had trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows. You have experienced things, endured things, learned things, that no one else has. You have been brought to this point in your life, and whether young or old, you are important to God and have something to share. You don’t know what tomorrow may bring, you don’t know what situation you may be called into or who may need your help, but be ready, for God has prepared you “for such a time as this.”
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” You always want to see where you’re going? The Psalmist just told you how. God’s Word is meant to lead us, guide us, and comfort us, and so much more. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is God’s letter of love to help us wind our way through the jungle of life and on into eternity. Say you had to go on a prolonged journey, but before you left you wrote your spouse a detailed letter telling them how to do certain things, handle the finances, raise the kids, and how much you loved them. Then after a couple years you return to find your house foreclosed, your kids running amok, and your spouse with a different partner. In total dismay, you ask how could this happen, didn’t you read my letter? They reply, the letter was always on the mantle, I just never opened it! Too many people that claim the name of Jesus, leave His letter lying around unopened. Don’t set unrealistic goals, but make it a priority to read His Word every day. Don’t just listen to pastors and TV evangelists, read it for yourself. Don’t simply accept what you hear from others, look it up and make sure that’s what God really said. He will speak to you through His Word. You’ll be amazed how little your feet will stumble as they are going down that lighted path!
What should be the first thing anyone thinks of when they hear the word Christians? Of course, followers of Christ, but what is the first thing they think about the followers? That they are kind, loving, and giving or self-righteous, judgemental, and fundamental? Sadly, too often it is the latter. Then we need to change those opinions and become world evangelists. Not the whole world but the world around us! To help you do that, read 2 Peter 1:5-7 and
You have to admit it, sometimes it really galls you to see people that you know lie, cheat, steal, and are hypocrites prosper. When they are given promotions, finances, and honor … and you aren’t. Isn’t there any justice in this world? Yes there is! You think the Lord doesn’t know What’s going on? King David was well acquainted with the world’s injustice. Take to heart 
“One is the loneliest number you can ever do.” “Look at all the lonely people, where do they all come from?” Without trying too hard, how many songs about loneliness easily pop into your head? Loneliness is a universal problem that isn’t unique to anyone, we all have experienced it in one form or another; the loss of a long time spouse, the breakup of a romantic relations
Who wasn’t afraid of the dark as a young child? Who isn’t a little leery going into a dark building alone as an adult? Who likes to walk down dark alleys in a big city at midnight? Most bad things happen under the cover of darkness. Illegal things, immoral things, indecent things, all under the sinister smiles of “the rulers of the darkness of this age.” But, we are children of light! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will no
Esther was a simple, young girl, orphaned by the death of her parents, raised by her uncle, living in captivity in Babylon. A simple girl, but gorgeous! Her beauty, and obviously her charming personality, led King Ahaesurus to choose her to become his queen. When Haman plotted to annihilate all the Jews in captivity, she was able to use her position and intervene and pre