Does anyone remember using an actual camera to take pictures? With a cell phone in every pocket, sporting a built-in camera, I don't see one-purpose cameras very often.
I walked into our bedroom the other day and my husband, Paul, was reading from pages in a three-ring binder. When I got closer to determine what he was studying, I saw it was the manual for his fancy camera. We've had that camera since before we moved to Virginia eight years ago. We read enough of the instructions initially to be able to point the camera and take a picture, review the shots on the screen, and put the memory card in the computer to upload the images we had taken. After that, the manual was dutifully packed and moved from house to house and took up shelf-space without being examined again, at least until a few days ago.
The minute I saw what he was doing, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. He said, "Some people treat the word of God that way. They read enough of it initially to find out how to be saved, familiarize themselves with a few inspirational Bible stories, and read enough promises to know what they can ask God to do for them. After that, they feel like they know all they need to know to get by and they neglect the word from that point on, not even realizing how much they are missing."
Ouch! Sometimes I neglect the Word myself, so that puts me in the category of "some people".
I'm sure there are countless special features on this camera that could have used to improve all the pictures we've taken for the last decade. Paul might have learned by now how to handle this camera as well as a professional photographer, but he's just now really digging into the manual.
Where could we be as Christians if we really knew the word of God? Here's what the Word says about itself.
2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Knowing the actual word of God, not just the lyrics to popular Christian songs, is the basis for doctrine, for knowledge, for a relationship with God, and for the power of the Holy Spirit to truly flow in our lives. If we really desire all these things in our lives, we just need to read the manual! Only then will we know how our lives are supposed to be operated, just like that those camera instructions tell us how to use it to its full potential.
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