SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR SIMPLE PEOPLE! I remember that after I became a Christian and started reading the bible on a regular basis, as opposed to seldom reading it before I became a Christian, that a thought struck me that I hope, should strike everyone. Thoughts have to “strike” me because I am kind of hard headed. That information is gleaned from my wife and family genes, but this thought did strike me; what I was reading in the bible was just common sense. After all if God is dealing with people who have had their entire being corrupted by the human race falling into sin He is going to have to make things pretty simple for most people to understand. Now this is not to say that they aren’t some really smart people among us but I find that often these people entirely miss what God is trying to say to mankind through His Word—the bible. And this is not to say the writings of the bible aren’t profound, because they are. After thousands of years people still study God’s Word and glean from it truths that still amaze them. But in the midst of intelligent and studious people are those of us who are “average”, simple people if you will, who still are able to read God’s Word and say that what God has revealed in His Word just makes “common sense.” This truth is real in any part of the world where God’s Word has spread.
Where am I going here? My point is that whatever your intelligence level is, real or perceived; God’s Word provides a path of living that will please God and yourself, no matter your age or status in life. What I discovered after my salvation experience was that God’s Holy Spirit living in me opened up God’s Word for me so that I really understood what God was saying to me in His Word. And when the Holy Spirit did that I realized that it was just common sense so that anyone who had faith in God through a salvation experience could understand it. God wrote His book so that simple people like me can understand it.
The Palmist wrote, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the Law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed,” (Psalm 119:1-4 NIV). It would seem common sense would dictate that there is a God, and since there is a God He must be in control because common sense tells me I am not and I sure haven’t seen anyone else who qualifies. So God has told me and every other person to follow His directions given in His Word and seek Him with all our heart and we will be blessed. And no shortcuts are allowed because His “precepts are to be fully obeyed.” That is pretty simple to understand even for a simple person like me. I am glad God gives simple guidelines for simple people because He loves us and wants us to love Him and follow Him.
DR. CHUCK DAVIS-
