Directions for Use
Directions for Use
“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:20-21
Have you ever not followed directions? The results are sometimes disastrous.
What’s the difference between instructions and directions? Instructions tell us what is needed, directions guide us on its use.
Here’s and example.
We go to the doctor and he or she will prescribe medicine to us. We look at the label and it says take two pills, twice daily, with water. That’s instruction. Directions are needed on how to get the cap off the bottle.
We do this for all sorts of stuff. The car takes eight quarts of oil, we put in eight quarts and change the filter. Directions tell us we need an oil catch, a rag and probably some help.
Usually we follow the direction of someone who’s done it before until we get the hang of it and can do it on our own. We will always need the instructions, the directions are guided input.
We tend to follow the directions of someone else, who’s smarter in that area than we are and we follow their direction. It’s guidance.
Instructions are great. They are specific. Outlined. Have a purpose. But someone has to explain how we apply those things.
A mower cuts the grass, but what’s the best way, best time or best speed?
The other day I needed to glue something together that was pretty heavy duty. I thought I’d use a two part epoxy. It comes with tube A and tube B. Separate from themselves they do absolutely nothing, but when combined, look out - they can hold a hard hat to a steel beam with a construction worker holding on (an old super glue commercial).
I read and understood the instructions but what about the directions. How to mix it. Where to mix it. The instructions told me specifics. The directions guided me in the process. I still messed it up on the first try.
So all this started me thinking. Where do we get the directions for use in our Christian growth? I mean the Bible is the instruction manual, but what or who, tells us how to use it. When to apply it, how often, etc etc etc. I mean the pastor has to have a day off right?
The definition of direction is the management or guidance of something or someone.
Sure the Bible could be used for that as well I suppose. Or could it?
It gives the material and the information, but does it tell you how to apply those things in given situations. Pretty tough to read the Bible and assume how to apply it on your own.
I’ve heard pastors preach the same scripture applied in similar circumstances or stories with two different results. The scripture said the same thing, the situations were almost identical and yet the outcome was different. It was about application, not interpretation.
The Bible is so amazing that you can do that. You can take similar circumstances, worlds apart and apply the same scripture to both and get different results.
So the questions is this, who is helping you read your Bible and understand where to apply it in your life daily?
I have someone I study with and resources I use as study tools. These things give me guidance.
Direction is an active role, someone has to give it to you or you give it to someone else. It’s involvement.
Participation, encouragement and guidance are not one sided. Nor are they only needed once a week.
Discipleship is a great form of direction or guidance. Having someone to grow with you, guide you and help you along the way is so important. You will only greatly grow if you grow greatly. You get out of it what you put into it.
Imagine if you assumed direction. We’ve all misread a GPS or map. Where’d that get you?
The Bible is not open to interpretation, it is open to application and first you have to open it.
Start reading it today and start talking about it. Study it. Make it a part of your daily living. Have your pastor tell you where to get help in understanding it. Get more out of your Bible today.
It’s not just about reading it, it’s about understanding it and applying it in your life.
“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:79
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Ephesians 3:19
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:6