A new item caught my eye one day. It was a flashlight with two beams. One beam pointed straight out so that you could see what lay ahead in the darkness. The other beam pointed down at about a forty-five degree angle so that you could see what lay just in front of you. The idea was that you didn’t have to keep moving the beam down to see if you were about to step in, or on, something and lose track of the path in front of you. You could do both at the same time. I know, it was not a life saving device, but it was pretty neat.
Looking at it made me think of a Scripture verse. In Psalm 119:105 David is extolling the Law of God and he says, “Thy Word is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet.” Just as that flashlight had a two-fold purpose, so does God’s Word. David said that the Scriptures helped him to see the direction he should be moving in and it also revealed the very steps he should take. So he could stay focused on the path that God had laid out for him.
How does this work? Let take the book of Proverbs, located in the Hebrew Scriptures just after the Psalms. The thirty-one chapters of this book contain wisdom for nearly all areas of life, including personal growth in character, finances, family values, interpersonal relationships, and general perspective on life. Following the wisdom of Proverbs can help you avoid many pitfalls in life as well as instruct you in gaining strength in faith. In other words, Proverbs helps you in the direction your life should take as well as specific advice about daily issues. It is a light for your path ahead and a lamp to show you where you are stepping.
Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs, the book of Proverbs is a practical guide to daily living. Try reading the “Proverb of the day.” Since there are thirty-one chapters, and around thirty or thirty-one days in most months, read the proverb that corresponds to the day of the month. That way you read the entire book every month. The life principles can’t help but become familiar and possibly be life changing.
© 2009, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 7 (2009).