WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO STUDY GOD'S WORD SO THAT WE WON'T BE ASHAMED AS WE TRY TO SERVE THE LORD, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT IS PROFITABLE FOR US. THESE VERSES GIVE US FOUR REASONS FOR THIS STUDY.

FOR DOCTRINE  (WHAT GOD EXPECTS). HE EXPECTS PERFECTION. HE WANTS US TO BE PERFECT AS HE IS PERFECT (MATTHEW 5:48). SINCE WE ARE MERE MORTALS, WE CANNOT BE PERFECT, BUT WHEN AS A SINNER WE PLACE OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AND WE ASK HIM TO SAVE US, WE ARE MADE PERFECT BEFORE GOD THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD. GOD NO LONGER LOOKS AT OUR IMPERFECTION, BUT AT THE PERFECTION OF JESUS.

FOR REPROOF (WHERE WE ARE WRONG). GOD'S WORD CONVICTS SINNERS, THAT THEY ARE LOST AND IN NEED OF A SAVIOUR, AND CONVICTS THE SAINT THAT THEY WENT ASTRAY AND THEY NEED TO GET BACK IN LINE. EVEN SAINTS NEED FORGIVENESS. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE 1JOHN 1:9.

FOR CORRECTION ( WHAT TO DO TO MAKE IT RIGHT). ONCE WE REALIZE WHERE WE WENT WRONG, WE NEED TO MAKE IT RIGHT. SINNERS NEED TO BE CONVERTED (ACTS 3:19) AND SAINTS NEED TO RETURN TO THEIR FIRST WORKS (REVELATIONS 2:5).

FOR INSTRUCTION (HOW TO KEEP IT RIGHT). PSALMS 119:105 SAYS, "THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH." GOD'S WORD WILL GUIDE US AND SHOW US THE PATH TO WALK. WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FALLING OFF OF THE PATH. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS STUDY AND FOLLOW HIS WORD AND HE WILL SEE THAT WE MAKE IT TO THE END OF OUR PATH.

DO YOU LET GOD LIGHT YOUR PATH?

BY ASSOCIATE PASTOR KENNETH NELSON, CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, MANISTEE, MI.