Author: Nathaniel Colt

Read about It

Read: Joshua 1:6–9

Have you ever been hiking? On a hike, you might take a map with all the directions you need to get to the end of the hike. You’ll probably also see warning signs that give clear instructions to stay on the path. This is because if you leave the path that has been marked, you could easily become lost, find yourself in a dangerous spot, and not finish your hike at the intended destination.

God has given us a map with very clear instructions on how to follow the path He has planned for our lives. That map is His Word, the Bible. When we are careful to study His Word, we can understand and walk boldly in the path that He wants us to take. We can be strong and courageous and follow God’s Word with all our heart!

Read about It

Read: Luke 6:47–49

Imagine that you are on a beach on a warm and sunny day. It’s a perfect day to build sandcastles. You gather your bucket and shovel and build the most beautiful sandcastle anyone has ever seen. Then, a giant wave comes crashing out of nowhere and demolishes your sandcastle, sweeping it bit by bit into the water with the following waves.

Now, think about this: What would have happened if, instead of building your sandcastle of sand, you had built it with big rocks using an even bigger rock as the base? A strong castle made of rocks isn’t going to be knocked over easily by the waves. It’s going to stand strong because it’s stronger than the waves.

It’s important for us to build our lives on something strong too—God’s Word. When we spend time in God’s Word and choose to follow Him, we can stand firm on the truths found in God’s Word. When hard times come or when we are tempted to do something wrong, we can know that He will speak to us and guide us to help us make the right choices.

Read about It

Read: Proverbs 30:5–6

Imagine for a moment that you’re running an obstacle course while arrows are being shot at you. You’re climbing walls, crawling under nets, and jumping barricades, and the arrows just keep flying. Imagine how hard it would be to complete the course while you worried about all the arrows.

Life is a lot like an obstacle course. Satan, our enemy, constantly shoots arrows at us to try to trip us up. However, because every word of God proves true, God is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. When we choose to obey God’s Word, God covers us with His protection and helps us move through life the way He wants us to.

Read: Psalm 33:4

Think about a time when someone told you they would do something, but then they didn’t do it. How did it make you feel? (Allow responses.) It can be really frustrating when we trust someone to do something, and they don’t follow through. People fail because people are human.

However, God is not like humans in that way. His Word is true and has been proven true over and over again. Because God cannot fail, we can trust His Word and everything He does. This should give us confidence when it comes to obeying His Word. We aren’t just obeying the words of someone who might not follow through—we are obeying the one true God. And we should obey it in every part of our lives.

Read about It

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14–15

“Brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep your teeth healthy.” “Don’t eat too much junk food or you’ll get a stomachache.” These are things that, hopefully, you have been taught since you were young. You know they are true because you can trust the person who taught them to you. And you understand the real consequences of not obeying them.

As you learn God’s Word, it’s important that you obey it and do what it says. God’s Word is true and can be trusted. We can count on all the good things God’s Word promises, and we can also count on the consequences of not obeying God’s Word. Remain faithful to the truths you are learning in God’s Word and follow them with all your heart.

Read about It

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Have you ever tried playing a game with no rules? Or maybe everyone followed their own rules for the game? It’s crazy and can be frustrating for everyone! It makes the game difficult to play and takes away the fun. When you buy a game, the rules are included to help you know how to play the game properly so that you can get the most fun out of it.

God’s Word functions as our rulebook for life. It shows us how to live. God knows what’s best for us, and He wants to equip us and to prepare us to live for Him. When we God’s Word, we are obeying truth, and we can experience the full life that God has for us.

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Read: Acts 17:11

There’s nothing quite like walking in your house and smelling homemade, freshly baked cookies! The smell fills the air, and you can almost taste the cookies before you even see them. Warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies are the best! However, there are some things that may mislead you into thinking chocolate chip cookies have been baked at home when they haven’t. Store-bought cookies warmed in a microwave may be especially deceptive but even a scented candle can produce a similar smell. Until you actually see and taste the homemade cookies for yourself, you don’t know for sure that they’re homemade!

This is similar to how the people in Berea were with God’s Word. They were eager and excited to listen to Paul’s message and learn more about God’s Word. However, they didn’t just accept what Paul and Silas said. They studied God’s Word for themselves to make sure that what Paul and Silas taught was truth. They didn’t want something fake. They wanted real truth!

There are many people who can teach us what God’s Word says: friends and family, pastors and leaders, and even great devotional books. However, it’s important for us to study, know, and experience God’s Word for ourselves so that we can make sure that what we are hearing lines up with the truth that is in God’s Word!