The Plumb Line

Read Amos 7:7-9

“Dad, the wallpaper in the corner of my room isn’t on straight,” observed Jared. “Look—the blue stripe starts right next to the wall at the top, but it’s not next to the wall at the bottom.”

“You’re right,” agreed Dad. “Maybe the wall isn’t straight. Let’s find out.” He took a ball of thick string and tied a little metal ring to the end of it for a weight. Then he handed Jared a ruler and climbed on a chair so he could hold the string next to the ceiling. Slowly he unwound the string until the little ring reached the baseboard. Although Dad held the string next to the wall at the ceiling, it swung away from the wall at the baseboard. “The weight of that ring makes the string hang down straight, and that shows that the wall actually is crooked,” said Dad. “Measure the distance between the string and the wall to see how far off it is.”

Jared took the ruler and set to work. “About an inch,” he reported, “and we wouldn’t even have noticed it if it weren’t for the stripe on the wallpaper.”

“Right,” said Dad, “but the plumb line tells the truth.”

“The plumb line?” asked Jared. “Is that what you call that string with the ring on it?”

Dad nodded. “Maybe you’d like to hear what the Bible has to say about a plumb line,” he suggested. “When it’s time for devotions today, we’ll look it up.” He smiled at Jared. “When God was going to judge a nation for its evil ways, he always used some sort of measuring device to show them their sins. Some of the prophets called God’s law and commandments the plumb line.”

“I can see why,” said Jared. “That would show if they measured up to God’s standard.”

“Do you think God uses a plumb line with us today?” asked Dad.

“Yep.” Jared nodded. “And I bet I know what it’s called,” he added. “The Bible.”

How about you?

How do you measure up to God’s “plumb line”? The Bible tells you how God wants you to live. Instead of just reading it, apply it to your life to check and see if you’re doing the things that please God.

Memorize:

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105