The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. (Ps. 119:138)
When a man mailed a Bible, the postal clerk asked, “Is there anything breakable in this package?”
“Yes,” the man replied, “the Ten Commandments.”
While the comment was intended as a joke, when we disregard the Ten Commandments, we don’t break them; we break ourselves. We were created to follow the instruction manual. God’s Word is our infallible guide, and on the first Christmas, God’s Word was made flesh in Jesus.
Sadly, our culture disregards both Scripture and Jesus as a source of authority, relying on personal experience, human reasoning, and public opinion instead. We’ve gone squishy. Perhaps it’s consumerism. Maybe it’s the “me generation” coming of age. It could be the tremendous influence of the entertainment industry in recent decades, obtaining values from Hollywood rather than the Holy Word.
Many people are under the impression that it doesn’t make any difference what you believe, as long as you believe something. Of course, this is faulty logic. For instance, you might believe it’s safe to step out of a flying airplane without a parachute, but you’ll come to a rude awakening in a few seconds. What we believe is vitally important.
In old English, the word believe means “live by.” If a faith isn’t worth living, it’s not worth much. God’s Word always rings true, and nobody regrets living by it. It is the perfect guide for living.
Plant your beliefs and faith in God’s Word made flesh—Jesus.
Mark O. Wilson is assistant professor of discipleship, multiplication, and renewal at Southern Wesleyan University (SC) and author of Filled Up, Poured Out.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
