Read the instructions!

Mike Mislan is a Friend on Facebook.  He is a missionary and has his own website:  MIKE MISLAN In The Philippines. He is also a student.  We know that because he recently had this Facebook Status, along with an explaining Comment:

A STUDENT'S HORROR! "Please REWRITE ALL reports. Carefully read and reread instructions until you have mastered them and follow instructions in every detail."

That was the reply I received, after I sent in some school work for grading. I thought I had done a great job. But after I double-checked their handbook and materials, I found I had been pre-warned: "Please read carefully and remember these instructions." This sentence was followed by eight paragraphs which explained it all in perfect detail. After I saw my negligence and apologized, the school had added: "We understand, this is common among our students. May God bless you!"

In the same way, God gave us Written Instructions which we are to master in every detail. We are to understand and obey His Written Instructions, without adding, subtracting, compromising or making exceptions. It makes no difference if we are Pastors of large churches, missionary church-planters with many ministries, Sunday School teachers or simply new converts just starting out in our walk with Him.

What do our Christian Report Cards look like? How do we know if we aren’t even reading the instructions?  Paul’s instruction to Timothy is just as relevant to us:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

I met a man who said he had read, and had determined that the Bible could not possibly be correct by the time he finished Exodus.  I regret that he did not complete reading the Bible and get to the end of the story.  In fact, I find that a chronological reading of the Bible is just as interesting a study as in the authorized layout of books.

We should be following the Berean’s example, search scripture daily:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)

Realize, too, that the scriptures searched in Berea were those of what we call the Old Testament, the Tanakh of the Jews. God’s word is open to everyone.

Early on we are told to love Him:  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV)

Later on we are told why:  We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

How do we get this good report?  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. (Hebrews 11:1-2 KJV)

How do we get this faith?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)