Spot the difference…

Have you ever done a spot the difference puzzle?

There are two pictures that at first glance appear identical but as look harder you notice subtle differences. Something not in the right place, out of line or missing altogether. As you find each difference you circle it to highlight it.

This puzzle made me think of God’s word.

In the Bible we have everything we need to know to live a Christlike life. It tells us how to live our lives for the glory of God, what we should be doing or avoiding.

But when we read the Bible out of duty, as something to cross off our to do list, we get little from it and it’s easy to think we’re doing quite well and not notice those subtle differences that show we’re not truly living a Christlike life.

But if we pick up our Bible with prayer, asking God to open our eyes to those areas of our life that don’t align with His word and will, we are soon convicted and spot those differences.

How do we read God’s word Friends? Do we read it prayerfully, desiring our eyes to be opened to know His will, that we might be like Jesus in all we think, say and do? Or do we skim over a chapter out of duty?

When we’re truly convicted it’s as though the Holy Spirit puts a big red circle around that difference but the mercy is we’re not left there.

Friends, ‘He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’

When we humbly confess our failings and inability to anything good and right without God’s help, He gives us the grace we need to walk in all His ways.

‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you’.

‘For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’

We’re not enough and we can’t do enough in our own strength and wisdom but we don’t have to because God has said that…

‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’

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James 4:6-8, Heb 13:5,6, 2 Cor 12:9.