Ready:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” —2 Тимофію 3:16-17
Set:
Have you noticed that in many sports there are unspoken rules? They don't appear in the official rule book, but they are important to know. Baseball has a long history of unwritten rules. A few examples are these: When walking to the batter box, don't walk in front of the catcher or umpire. Walk behind them. Do not cross the pitcher's mound while on your way back to the dugout. In golf, a big unspoken rule is that there’s no talking when another golfer is about to hit. Neither should you move while that person is backswinging. Or do not walk in the ball line on the green. Walk around. So many unspoken things, but to play the sport well we need to play by the written rules and the unspoken ones.
In our faith journey, there are no unspoken rules. God makes known to us all that we need to know for life and godliness through knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3). We are not left on our own to figure out what we need to do because we have the Bible — His words to us.
The Old Testament is full of the things God’s people needed to do. He gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and then when Jesus came to earth, He didn’t abolish those rules He fulfilled them and clarified them so there was no unspoken misunderstanding. He declared what the Commandments were intended to help people to be and to do – “And he said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Матей 22:37-39).
We can breathe easy knowing there are no unspoken rules of faith lurking about to trip us up. Everything we need to know, God made findable in His Word.
Go:
What are 2-3 unspoken rules in your sport? What do you think their purpose is?
Why is it assuring that God does not have unspoken rules for us to figure out?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord God, thank You for the Bible and making clear to us Your expectations. I am so grateful there are no unspoken rules in our relationship. You have made it clear how to grow closer to You. Draw me closer. In Jesus’ name, amen.”