Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”  We often read the Bible casually, infrequently and even carelessly.  When we buy something new that comes with a manual of complicated instructions required to be read before assembling or using it, we often ignore the instruction manual and try to make it work without reading, studying and doing what it says.  The instructions sometime seem to require us to have a degree in engineering from M.I. T.  We even ignore the safety instructions.  Why?  Because we are men and pride gets in our way.  Our microwave recently died after only 14 months and outside the warranty.  I bought a new one but a different brand from the one which died so soon.  I tried to use the new one without reading the book and found that I had to read it to make all the features work properly.  It was different just as each day we face is different from proceeding day and issues.

What does all of this mean to us?  God has given us His Book of instructions on life and we are to read, study and do what it says.  Just like using all the features on a microwave or any electronic device, God’s Word has been given to us to live life and lead others.  It is the manual for us to use in our own lives, our homes and our work.  It has sections dealing with every issue we face in life.  Our prayer should be each morning, “Lord, show me in Your Word today what You want me to do!  And, I will do it.”  Our new microwave is working fine but I have had to go back to the manual a few times to solve a problem or to use another feature.  It is the same for us as we live life and we just need to take the time to find the right page of instructions.  Your wife, children and workers are not microwaves and they are much more valuable, sensitive and complicated.  As you live with and lead them, go to God’s Word to “read, study and do” what it says.  His Word is the only manual with all the answers, plus the Holy Spirit helps us to interpret it.