Dancing to Doctrine: Lamp & Light
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”—Psalm 119:105
Doctrine takes God’s Word and puts it together in a systematic fashion so that we might ascertain the mind and plan of God and learn our purpose within it. Consider the Psalmist words, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word is a “lamp to my feet” which means that it shows us our place within the life of God. But, God’s word is also a “light to my path.” Not only does it show us our place, but it shows us our place within the path of God’s salvation already laid out for us.
The Scripture often portrays God’s salvation as both a journey and a destination—we “walk” with God and in the truth of God’s commands because we know that such a life is pleasing to God (Genesis 5:22-24; Deuteronomy 5:33; 10:12; Joshua 22:5; Micah 6:8; Ephesians 5:2; 2 John 1:4). But, our walk takes place on the narrow road that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). Doctrine helps us understand the parameters of the narrow road, along with outlining the proper steps that enable us to walk safely, securely, while inviting others to do the same.
We must be like Ezra who “…set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel”—Ezra 7:10. Ezra was learning doctrine, which taught him how to be obedient according to the Word and then pass it on to others. Doctrine is belief and action, script and performance, with us playing our part. God is the author and star of the play, but we are given scripts to perform so that we might share in the joy of knowing Him.
I hope and pray that all of us might be like Ezra, studying the Word to do it and then sharing it with others to their joy. May God enable us all to present ourselves to God as one’s approved, workers who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15) until we take our place in God’s divine story of redemption for His glory and our joy. Amen.
Doctrine takes God’s Word and puts it together in a systematic fashion so that we might ascertain the mind and plan of God and learn our purpose within it. Consider the Psalmist words, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word is a “lamp to my feet” which means that it shows us our place within the life of God. But, God’s word is also a “light to my path.” Not only does it show us our place, but it shows us our place within the path of God’s salvation already laid out for us.
The Scripture often portrays God’s salvation as both a journey and a destination—we “walk” with God and in the truth of God’s commands because we know that such a life is pleasing to God (Genesis 5:22-24; Deuteronomy 5:33; 10:12; Joshua 22:5; Micah 6:8; Ephesians 5:2; 2 John 1:4). But, our walk takes place on the narrow road that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). Doctrine helps us understand the parameters of the narrow road, along with outlining the proper steps that enable us to walk safely, securely, while inviting others to do the same.
We must be like Ezra who “…set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel”—Ezra 7:10. Ezra was learning doctrine, which taught him how to be obedient according to the Word and then pass it on to others. Doctrine is belief and action, script and performance, with us playing our part. God is the author and star of the play, but we are given scripts to perform so that we might share in the joy of knowing Him.
I hope and pray that all of us might be like Ezra, studying the Word to do it and then sharing it with others to their joy. May God enable us all to present ourselves to God as one’s approved, workers who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15) until we take our place in God’s divine story of redemption for His glory and our joy. Amen.
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