Directions

Today I undertook the challenge of running 10 miles. About half way through the mini marathon an older woman in a white Ford Windstar stopped me. She was trying to get to Point Loma Seafood. She seemed very excited about getting there and she should've been. Point Loma Seafood is the best place to get a cup of clam chowder and fresh fish in San Diego.

I told her to go back down the street and take a left. I said it with full assurance, selling her on my expertise in directional bearing. Unknown to her is my total dependence on the goodwill of Google maps to find every unknown location I go to.

As I struggled back down Scott Street I saw the wooden sign with reddish lettering announce "Point Loma Seafood." It was then that I realized that I sent her in the opposite direction. It became painfully obvious that I gave directions when I clearly should have either said nothing or something extremely general like, "It's on Scott."

How many times during my life with I give someone wrong directions? For this lady it probably just made her frustrated and late for dinner. For others it could mean a life that was left unexamined or one that was ruined because of the advice I gave.

How do I avoid this? The Bible says study to show yourself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. As a teacher or mentor, we are building the body of Christ. In order to do so, we must correctly interpret Scripture. It is my hope that as I read the text and alway the Holy Spirit to guide me through it, that all preconceptions fall away and I stand with a naked heart waiting to be clothed in the righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus.

I encourage everyone who reads this to not only read the Bible, but believe the Bible. Study it out, find out the historical and cultural situation, and recognize that the Bible is the inerrant, God breathed story of redemption. If you do this, the word will become alive to you and you will be changed by it.