Instruction

 

    How do you look at instruction?  Do you look at it as something that just forces you to do something you don't want to do?  Do you you view instructions as guidance?  Do you see instruction as a boundary builder?  Instruction is only detailed information for order or direction on something to be done, operate, or assembled.  It is not good or bad on it's own.  It is all in how you view it and use it that makes it good or bad.

    The Bible is a very detailed instruction manual with vivid examples on how to live.  It gives you reasoning, which most instruction manuals do not, on what will happen if you do something or do not do something.  It makes it very clear, so no one would have to question if it is the right way.  At the same time it gives you flexibility to be who you are with God and not conform to be a pod person.

    Instruction of the Bible begins with prayer.  Pray before, during, and after reading it.  Ask God to reveal the message He has laid out for you that day.  Ask that it brings you closer to Him.  Make request for other people.  Ask for what you need and even want in life.  Ask for clarity, inspiration, wisdom, understanding, and motivation.  

    Pray with thanksgiving in your heart for the instruction that you have been given.  It enables you to live with peace in your heart.  It allows you to live a quiet, holy, and Godly life.  Pray for the people in authority to do what is right.  Ask God to put the right person in the place of authority.  That sometimes means the person we would never chose, but they have a purpose.  

    Testify to the world about your relationship with Jesus.  Allow people to see what God is doing in your life.  It is not all about knowledge, but use what you learn to teach other people how to have a relationship with God.  God wants everyone saved and to know the truth.  He does not want one person excluded from the opportunity to have a relationship with Him.

    We all need the truth.  It begins with understanding what Jesus did, who God is, and allowing the mediator (Holy Spirit) to change you from the inside out.  He will give you instruction on how to talk to the secular world.  You can tell the world the truth in a loving way that is not going to attack how they may believe differently.  Take the time to have a genuine conversation without getting angry or having it turn into a dispute.  At the same time, you can still stand firm in your faith and never buckle.

    There is instruction for men, women, children, marriage, families, work, and the church.  Men are meant to lead in prayer, teaching, and in life.  They are expected to keep themselves holy and not allow anger to lead them.  If a man hurts something weaker than him, then it reveals a core weakness in him.  That is no a part of God's design.  

    Women it is important that we dress modestly.  Our bodies are a beautiful thing, but it is something that should be cherished by the husband.  It is a gift from God to be soft, curvy (even if it is slight), and unique to our birth sex.  We should not live in shame, fear, or arrogance over our bodies.  Instead we should recognize how they are a beautiful gift from God with unique abilities that only our sex has.  

    We need to understand that the beauty can be misconstrued by men.  It is for our own safety, peace of mind, and honor to God that we should keep it from being revealed too much.  We should only want our husbands to want us physically.  We should want the rest of the men to look us in the eye and treat us with respect.  They have a hard time with that if we reveal too much of out bodies.  Be known for your wit, respectability, and as a child of God through our faith, love, children, and holiness.

1Timothy 2