Bible reading; the key to spiritual growth (2)

Don’t chart your life’s course according to the opinions of people or popular culture. If you do, you’ll make the mistake that a farmer’s son made. The father sent the boy to prepare a field, reminding him to till straight lines. “Select an object on the far side of the field and plow straight at it.” Later, when the father checked on the boy’s progress, there wasn’t a straight furrow to be found. “I thought I told you to select an object and plow toward it,” the dad said. “I did,” the boy answered, “but the rabbit kept hopping.” A straight line requires an unmoving target, so set your sights on the unchanging principles of God’s Word. Let it be the authoritative Word in your world. This decision rubs up against the skin of our culture. We prefer the authority of the voting booth, the pollster, or whatever feels good. Such resistance is not novel to us. When Paul wrote a letter to Timothy he listed nineteen characteristics of people, each of which was a fruit of rebellion (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV). Then he wrote, “Continue following the teachings you learned. You know they are true, because you trust those who taught you. Since you were a child, you have known the Holy scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right” (2 Timothy 3:14-16 NCV). So soak yourself in the scriptures!