The Plumbline

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. (Psalm 139:13-14) How well do you know the one who created all that you are? If we want to understand him more, we need only ask for his help to see clearly what he says, does, and doesn't do. Yes, I said the things he doesn't do because there are just some things that are contrary to his nature, while they may be inherent in our own human nature. He doesn't sin - it isn't in is nature. He won't contradict himself - it isn't in his nature. He won't go back on a promise - it isn't in his nature. While all those things may be part of our human nature, they are not part of his. God made us in his image, but we were born with a sin nature - able to choose to do the things that are contrary to his nature. We need his exchanged nature in order to live upright and holy lives...

The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. (Proverbs 10:8-9 NLT) How do you receive God's instruction in your life? Instruction comes in various forms, from various ways, but it is all meant for a purpose - to 'help' us. If we get a box of 'put it together yourself' furniture, it comes with packages of connectors, various pieces, packing material, and even some labels. The most valuable thing in that box is often the least used - the instruction sheet! The maker put those instructions inside the box for our reference when assembling the object, but they are little more than excess packing material if we never use them as they were intended. The same is true of God's Word, his wise counselors, and even the things he reveals in nature around us - if we ignore the instructions that are provided, we will produce something, but it may not be Go...