The Plumb Line
I used to love to wallpaper. My dad taught me the correct procedures and often helped me redecorate. There was a right way. A higher way than what the natural eye could see. A way that determined the pattern matched and nothing was off line or crooked. Even the slightest deviation would ruin the pattern’s effect. One of the tools he used was a plumb line. It was simply a piece of string with a thumb tack on one end and a weight on the other. He coated the string with colored chalk and pulled the string back like a bow. Wallah! A mark was left from ceiling to floor to make sure we were “plumb.”
The Bible is our absolute plumb line to righteous living. It is the only answer to responding to situations in an attitude of love and wisdom. The world will pull us down. So will our flesh. And the enemy of our souls will do everything he can to pull us away from God’s higher ways. Even people we love can send us to the pits but God says, “Don’t go there.” It’s only when our feet are on the Solid Rock that we will be able to answer the call to Come Up Higher. Let’s look at a few verses in Ephesians to help us on our journey.
Read Ephesians 4:31
1. Of what are we to rid ourselves?
Read Ephesians 4:32
2. How are we to treat others? Why is forgiveness important?
Read Ephesians 5:1-2
3. What’s the best way to live?
Read Ephesians 5:3-5
4. What is improper for God’s holy people? Who has no inheritance in the Kingdom of God?
Read Ephesians 5:8-9
5. How should we live after coming out of darkness? What kind of fruit will be produced?
We all need a higher way of thinking, a higher way of living. That pursuit is never over. That’s why I believe in the study of God’s Word. It will renew our minds in helping us understand God’s call to Come Up Higher. A verse in Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We renew our minds to a higher way of thinking when we take a look at what God has to say about life. As we begin a new year, let one thing be our goal…making the Bible a daily habit. Find out what God has to say about everything. His Word is living and active. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. It divides soul and spirit, helping us to know what is from Him and what is not. The Bible says all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Make the Bible your daily bread and you will better hear the call to Come Up Higher.
You and I are to get rid of all bitterness – wrath – anger – clamor – evil speaking – that is a lot of things that we need to remove from our lives – but it is so much better with all of this gone from us and for you and I to be more like JESUS. We are to treat other people as we would love to be treated – kind – loving – tenderhearted – caring – forgiving. Forgiving is so important in our lives because it makes us more like JESUS – and I want to live in such a way that people will see HIM through my life. We are to be complete followers of GOD because we are HIS children – walk in love and let it show through our lives as CHRIST has loved each one of us. You and I have a whole list of things that are improper for us as being a child of GOD – We need to study on these things and make sure they are removed from our lives completely – You and I are saints of GOD – we must show it in our daily lives. No inheritance into the kingdom of CHRIST and of GOD with these things in our lives – we must be HOLY. We must walk in the light with the LORD – walk as children of light. We must have the fruit of the SPIRIT – goodness and righteousness and truth at all times while serving the LORD with all of our hearts. Again such a wonderful lesson and so many things to think and dwell on in our daily lives – I want to be more like HIM – LOVE HIM – SERVE HIM – FOLLOW HIM and I could go on and on – I would not give up my daily BIBLE READING AND PRAYING each morning of each day – it sure does help us walk in HIS way each day. Thanks again – Karen – JUST SIMPLY WONDERFUL.