Jan 25, 2018
Lesson Notes--A LAMP TO MY FEET
Introduction
Key Verse: Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
One key to growth in the Lord is spending time with the Lord. Over the past several lessons, we have talked about what we can do to encourage our growth in the Lord. We talked about our “Commitment to Growth” and in our last lesson we talked about the “Importance of Prayer”. I will link these previous episodes in the show notes for today. In this lesson, I would like to talk about the Importance of Bible reading and Bible study
Lesson
Drifting away
I don’t know that any Christian plans to fall away from the Lord. Sometimes Christians may and do fall away from the Lord because of a sudden or a tragic event. More commonly though, I would imagine, Christians fall away not because of a sudden or tragic event, but from slowly drifting away. Over time we substitute good habits for lesser habits. These lesser habits may not necessarily be “bad" habits, just lesser habits. Habits that are a substitution for the things that help us remain connected to and growing in the Lord.
For example, we may spend less time with other Christians or being involved at church and more time fishing or going out shopping with friends. We may push something as important as prayer back in our schedules until it is just pushed out. Less and less time may be spent in reading God’s Word and more time given to other things in our day such as scrolling on Facebook or reading our favorite sports magazine.
It’s not that we plan to drift away from the Lord. However, if we are not careful, good habits can get crowded out by lesser habits.
God’s Word
Staying connected to the Lord through His Word is not something we as Christians can do without. God’s Word is vital for our growth and for remaining connected to the Lord.
I recently asked on our Facebook Page, “Why it is important for Christians to read the Bible?” Some of the comments were a) “To be able to give a defense for your faith.” b) “It shapes our view of the world. We see things through spiritual eyes when we are in the Word.”
Thank you for the great comments and I could not agree more!
In Psalms 119:105, we read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” Would we expect to be able to navigate our way safely in the dark without light? Given time, we will run into something and injure ourselves or others. As Christians, we cannot grow in the Lord or navigate this life without the light of His Word. It would be as foolish as trying to navigate without light.
Let me offer a few practical benefits to the study and reading of God’s Word. I hope these suggestions will encourage you in reading and studying God’s Word.
1. Illuminates our path - As we read in Psalms 119:105, God’s Word lights our path so we can walk on solid ground. We hear so many different suggestions as to what we should do or where we should go. In God’s Word we find His direction for us. His Word eliminates the confusion and noise we so often hear in the world.
2. God’s Word provides direction - His Word directs us and keeps us focused on our goal as Christians. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, “ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This was Paul’s focus. Reading and studying God’s Word helps us maintain our focus. There are plenty of distractions in our day, plenty of things to pull our focus away from the Lord. His Word helps us maintain our focus.
3. His Word helps us understand our purpose in the Lord - In the Bible, God has revealed Himself to us. He also reveals His desire for us. He is long-suffering toward us “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord’s desire is for each of us to know Him, to repent of our sins, and to experience a new life in Him. Additionally, He desires our growth. The apostle Peter, writing in 2 Peter 1:5 says that we are to make every effort to add to [our] faith. This is, to grow. As He is our Creator, He knows how we grow best and what is needed for our growth. In 1 Thessalonians 4:7, we read “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” His purpose is for our holiness, to be conformed to the image of His Son Romans 8:29. Through His Word, we are guided by the Spirit as we learn of God’s desire for us.
4. Through His Word, we maintain fellowship - In the daily reading and studying of God’s Word, we maintain fellowship with the Lord and with others. Early Christians, as we read in Acts 2:42, continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship. Part of the unity and fellowship enjoyed by the early Church was a fellowship centered on the Word of the Lord. His Word unifies us as believers and draws us closer to one another as we share life in God’s Word together. His Word also draws us closer to Him. In James 4:8, we read “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” We have the promise of God’s Word: that if we seek Him, He will draw close to us. How do we seek Him? We do this through prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and through His Word.
Wrap-Up
I hope, in some way, these simple thoughts help us gain a better understanding of the value in daily Bible reading and study. His Word is truly a lamp and a light for us today. I also pray that these words honor the Lord.
If you have found this lesson of benefit, you could help us by sharing this lesson with your friends or encouraging others to visit simplyrevised.org. It is our prayer that God is glorified by our efforts and that others are encouraged and strengthened in the Lord.
Episode Links
simplyrevised (home) - https://www.simplyrevised.org/
Music by Eric Gwin - http://ericgwin.com/
the simplyRevised podcast - http://simplyrevised.libsyn.com/
podcast "Commitment to Growth" - http://simplyrevised.libsyn.com/20-commit-to-growth
podcast "The Importance of Prayer" - http://simplyrevised.libsyn.com/21-the-importance-of-prayer
* All Scripture quoted from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted