Thursday, April 15, 2010

Let It Change You

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 
—Psalm 119:105

People today are trying to change God's Word to fit their lifestyle or the things they have decided they want to do. But it doesn't work that way. Psalm 19:8 says, "The statutes of the Lord are right . . . " (emphasis added). In the original language, this verse means that God's Word has set out the right path for us to follow. We don't have to lose our bearings in the fog of human opinion or let our fickle emotions lead us astray. Instead, we have a sure guide: the Word of God.

That is why it is important to read through books of the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter. And if you come to a verse in the Bible that you don't agree with, then change your opinion. It is that simple. The objective is to conform your thinking to what the Bible teaches and not the other way around. Romans 12:2 tells us that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

So as you read God's Word, ask yourself questions like, "Is there any sin identified here for me to avoid?" "Is there a promise here that I might claim?" "Is there a victory to gain?" "Is there a blessing to enjoy?" Understand the verse contextually, because sometimes people will take verses out of context. Understand the verse in its original language. Make sure the translation you are reading is accurate. Make sure that you have understood what the verse is actually saying.

And having established that, if what you believe is different than what the passage teaches, then you need to change your thinking. The Word of God is right. And if you are not in alignment with it, then you are wrong. So allow God's Word to change you.

Copyright © 2010 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
to listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com, click here.

SPECIAL OFFER

Hope for Hurting Hearts
In times of tragedies and trials, certain things become evident:

  • This life will have its sorrows
  • God loves us
  • Jesus weeps in our times of pain
  • God can be glorified through human suffering

Hope for Hurting Hearts, Pastor Greg Laurie's new book, examines these truths, revealing God's love and care for us, and shows how we can find hope, even in the midst of the most unbearable pain and sorrow.

You can have your own copy of Hope for Hurting Hearts by Greg Laurie in appreciation for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.