By Michael M. Cook

I enjoy basic woodworking as a release to the stress that I acquire during the day. One thing I have learned in woodworking is that the clearer the instructions the better the finished product.

Paul makes several things crystal clear in our reading today. If we would abide by God’s instructions, many things would turn out well.

How many problems could be eliminated if we would just follow the wise counsel of older women as they invest and guide younger women in key areas of their lives? What impact would there be if young men would be self-controlled and older men sound in faith, love and endurance? These are powerful words.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy we find these words as part of his instructions to a young pastor, “But keep your head in all situations…” How important is that instruction?

The Bible contains a lot of really good advice. It lays out guidelines and provides key measurements for proper balance in our lives.  Yet, it is not a self-help book. It’s much more important than that. A self-help book may be a useful tool, but it’s not absolutely necessary. The Bible is an integral part of our relationship with God. The Bible is more like an instruction manual. It shows us how we are constructed and what we are designed for. It tells us very specifically what we must do in order to run at maximum capacity. The more closely we follow what the Bible says, the better chance we have of creating a life that resembles God’s blueprint.

I trust that today will be a great “shop” day as we follow His instruction manual.

Learn more about NT8 at AFBC here.