What Is Your Measuring Stick?
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2Timothy 3:16, NIV)
What do you measure things against to make your decisions about what is right and wrong? Everyone has something that they use to help them decide if it is right to do something. Politicians use popularity polls to direct their campaigns. Actors and actresses are not considered marketable if their movies don’t do well at the box office. When they are in a slump, the decision is made for them by the studio. Corporations make decisions based on the upward or downward turn of the graph line on a Profit and Loss Report. Many people use popular opinion of their friends or the media.
All of these things can vary depending on who you talk to, or the place or time you are living. Opinions vary. Sometimes the same source will change its mind concerning a topic and give the opposite advice at a later time. What do you use to decide?
Many people are living miserable lives because they are confused about what guidelines to use for their life decisions. God gives us a measuring stick that is unchanging, the Bible.
God tells us that the written Word that He has given us is “God-breathed.” That means that the Bible was inspired by Him. Timothy explains how valuable God’s inspired Word is to us. It is helpful for teaching and instructing, reprove when someone has done something wrong, correction to restore someone to a right state, and training in righteousness, which is instruction whose aim is to increase virtue.
Look up the following verses and answer the questions:
Hebrews 4:12: What exposes the thoughts and motives of a man’s heart?
Psalm 1:1-2: What does a person have to do to be blessed?
Psalm 119:165: What two things will someone have if they love God’s law?
Matthew 24:35: What does this verse say will never pass away?
So, what is your measuring stick? Make a decision today to find out what God says in the Bible and choose to live by it. Do you have a plan for reading the Bible? Why not make a plan today to start reading God’s Word. It has never been influenced by popular opinion! Have a measuring stick that never changes and will never pass away.
by Dr. Henry Brandt
Author, Teacher, Christian Counselor, Consulting Psychologist
Used with Permission:
http://www.henrybrandtfoundation.org
After reading this article, did the Holy Spirit point out to you areas or life that new decisions? Why not take the time right now and ask Him to fill and empower you, thank Him for forgiving your sin and making you a loving person.
Here is a suggested prayer: We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is a suggested prayer:
“Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”
Related Reading:
Overwhelmed by Negative Feelings?
Fear, Faith and Migraines by Dr. Muriel Larson
Up from Depression
Barbara Epp shares her journey with depression and the misconception that Christians shouldn’t get depressed
Struggling with Depression – Story #2– Merri Ellen Giesbrecht tells her depression story and her story of hope
Abuse Survivor’s Story – A anonymous woman’s story. Sexually molested by her father as a child.
From Victim to Victory – Physically and emotionally abused as a child, Sharon stopped crying at 6 and stopped talking at 9.
Why Worry Yourself Sick? – by Muriel Larson