An Illuminating Light
Imagine trekking through the woods on a pitch-black night with only a lantern or flashlight to guide you. How would you stay on the trail? How would you know where to go? How would you keep from getting lost?
The author of Psalm 119 shares some insight:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 NIV
God's Word refers to the written or spoken message of God, as well as the message of God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, often called the Word.
God is real. He created you on purpose, and He designed this world with you in mind. So, how can you know who He is, what He’s like, and what He desires from and for you?
You can know God, better understand who He’s created you to be, and navigate this increasingly dark world by the light of His Word.
The Word of God is like a light in your hand, illuminating truths about the story of God, the character of God, and the ways of God. It helps us understand His creation and answer difficult questions or make hard choices.
The guidance found in God’s Word is perfect. His story is true. His instructions are trustworthy. His promises will stand. His commands are like beams of light pointing us back to Himself.
Now, notice what this verse doesn’t say. It doesn’t say that God’s
Word is a spotlight, exposing every single thing about your past, present, or future.
No, God’s Word is a lamp for your feet and a light on your path. And as you walk with Him, step by step, He will lead you to life.
A Gift Worth Receiving
After Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for almost four decades, the religious Jews were angry with Him. This may seem strange, because healing is a good thing, but Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath—the day of rest. In the Old Testament, God gave believers a long list of rules to follow in order to stay right with Him, and these rules included honoring the Sabbath.
But in the New Testament, Jesus was sent to change our relationship with the Father. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He gave us access to a relationship with God—so that long list of rules was no longer needed. Throughout Jesus' life, He shows people the nature of this new relationship. But because it didn’t line up with what the religious establishment believed, they were angry with Him.
In John 5, Jesus justifies these changes through revealing His true authority. By calling God His Father, He shared that He was equal to God. This angered the religious Jews, but it gives us a ...