Have you ever tried to hang pictures in your home?
I confess I am a person who likes to eyeball the straightness of a picture. I hang it, then take a step back and begin to say to my husband down a little on the right – up a little on the left. Without fail, My husband likes to bring the level into the equation. He cannot stand for any kind of hung thing on our walls to be off one way or another – even a tiny bit. It bothers him when a picture is tilted even the slightest. (And if I am completely honest , me too) Trust me, we have had plenty of fun conversations about this topic. He says my eyes are a little off. I’m not sure what that means, but the truth is, the level doesn’t lie. If I had a dollar for every time I thought something looked good to me and my husband brought out the level to correct me, I’d be a rich woman. When that level is laid across the top of the picture there is something vey satisfying about te bubble being in the center of the tool
The Bible is the level of our lives. When we are out of sync with God’s intentions, it helps align us once again. If we allow it to teach us, and if we submit to its authority in our lives, it will change and correct us when we go astray. Our lives are best levelled when Jesus is the centre and is bubbling over giving life to its fullest.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The words that we read in the scriptures are not simply of human origin. The scriptures originate with God first. He inspired every word throughout history through the perspective and personality of the authors. They were birthed out of the individual’s intimate relationship with God to help people navigate every aspect of their lives. The Bible calls it useful. The scriptures are a tool to accomplish many things in the life of a believer. The key is that we must engage with it through reading and studying. When I say read, I don’t mean just saying the words on the page, but letting the words soak deeply into our hearts.
Second Timothy also says that the Bible teaches and trains us. When we read the Bible and study the scriptures, it forms our minds and hearts. It trains us in the way of righteousness. The Bible teaches us how to love people well, how to handle conflict, how to defend our faith, how to serve those in need, how to handle our finances, how to enjoy life, and so many more lessons.
Additionally, Second Timothy tells us that the scriptures rebuke us and correct us. This can sometimes be uncomfortable, but one of the Bible’s jobs is to expose sin, uncover motives, and reveal false theology in our hearts.
The scriptures keep our lives level and aligned with the foundation that is Christ.
I really want to soak up every Word in the Bible so that Jesus is in the centre and I am on the level…
