A few days ago, I was walking around outside the house, when I saw a line of string hanging down from a low part of the roof. There was a tiny weight attached to the end of this string...I'm not sure what the thing was there for. And the Lord reminded me that His Word is our plumb line.
"I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line..."
Isaiah 28:17
In the Old Testament, righteousness was God's plumb line, and whenever this line was crossed, He would bring on judgement. There is a righteousness that God expected of His OT people, and when they fell away and worshiped idols, He was obliged to move towards judgement. The plumb line is something that Israel was not to cross. The plumb line is from Him, and it is also for Him, so that they knew that He was justified in His judgement (Psalms 51:4).
Today, we have God's righteousness embodied in His word. We have His plumb line shown throughout the Bible. He has set precepts that are to be fully obeyed (Psalms 119:4)--this is the plumb line. If we cross it, we lose the righteousness He's given. If we cross it, our disobedience takes away the blessing on us and hedge of protection around us. It happened again and again to the Israelites, and it happens to us today.
There is a more personal element to this, too. We can discern God's will, God's voice, through aligning it with His Word. We can use the Bible, and all of it's promises, as a plumb line to ensure that we are seeing things as He does. If we are out of alignment, His plumb line will show it.
Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."
We need to be have God make a way for us so that we can know both His Word and His power. We have to know where our strength lies, where our foundation is at, and where our plumb line is. We have to know how to identify His righteousness and stay within His confines so that we can walk in it.
Confirmed: Later on this same day, I was reading a prophetic Word about God's plumb line. Cool! Every matter should be established by two or three witnesses... (2 Corinthians 13:1)
Confirmed: Just today, the Lord led me to the story of Zerubbabel.
Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. "For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel-- these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth." Zechariah 4:9
We have here a template for our own working for the Lord. First, we need to build upon a foundation the Lord has provided, and go on in building only according to His plumb line--only according to what He has said. We need to make sure that our effort aligns with His will and His Word. If He sends us into a project and guides us through it, then we are ensured to finish it! And if He trusts us, He will allow us to take that plumb line--that essence of His character--and use it in our own hands.
We need to be thankful for every day that God shapes our mandate and builds on our work. We need to know that His eyes are on us, and approving of us, and then enabling us, by His Spirit. We need to apply His character and His righteousness to our work, in order for Him to call it blessed. That's how we create a testimony where it's clear that He's sent us. That's where we won't be tempted to despise the day of small things. And that's how we please Him! God wants to sanctify our work.
"I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line..."
Isaiah 28:17
In the Old Testament, righteousness was God's plumb line, and whenever this line was crossed, He would bring on judgement. There is a righteousness that God expected of His OT people, and when they fell away and worshiped idols, He was obliged to move towards judgement. The plumb line is something that Israel was not to cross. The plumb line is from Him, and it is also for Him, so that they knew that He was justified in His judgement (Psalms 51:4).
Today, we have God's righteousness embodied in His word. We have His plumb line shown throughout the Bible. He has set precepts that are to be fully obeyed (Psalms 119:4)--this is the plumb line. If we cross it, we lose the righteousness He's given. If we cross it, our disobedience takes away the blessing on us and hedge of protection around us. It happened again and again to the Israelites, and it happens to us today.
There is a more personal element to this, too. We can discern God's will, God's voice, through aligning it with His Word. We can use the Bible, and all of it's promises, as a plumb line to ensure that we are seeing things as He does. If we are out of alignment, His plumb line will show it.
Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."
We need to be have God make a way for us so that we can know both His Word and His power. We have to know where our strength lies, where our foundation is at, and where our plumb line is. We have to know how to identify His righteousness and stay within His confines so that we can walk in it.
Confirmed: Later on this same day, I was reading a prophetic Word about God's plumb line. Cool! Every matter should be established by two or three witnesses... (2 Corinthians 13:1)
Confirmed: Just today, the Lord led me to the story of Zerubbabel.
Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. "For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel-- these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth." Zechariah 4:9
We have here a template for our own working for the Lord. First, we need to build upon a foundation the Lord has provided, and go on in building only according to His plumb line--only according to what He has said. We need to make sure that our effort aligns with His will and His Word. If He sends us into a project and guides us through it, then we are ensured to finish it! And if He trusts us, He will allow us to take that plumb line--that essence of His character--and use it in our own hands.
We need to be thankful for every day that God shapes our mandate and builds on our work. We need to know that His eyes are on us, and approving of us, and then enabling us, by His Spirit. We need to apply His character and His righteousness to our work, in order for Him to call it blessed. That's how we create a testimony where it's clear that He's sent us. That's where we won't be tempted to despise the day of small things. And that's how we please Him! God wants to sanctify our work.
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