To whom do you listen? Whose opinion matters? Why do you listen to and value the person that you do? Everyone has someone or something (ritual, belief, etc) that helps them make decisions. I have had experience with people who get so caught up in soap operas that they actually believe the actors are the characters that they portray.

We tend to respect our doctors' advice and listen to what they have to say. We listen to them because they have disciplined themselves to study hard and be prepared for our illnesses and ailments. It seems that people grant authority to those who have earned it.

Scripture is that authority for millions of people of all ages, races, and cultures. Scripture has been around for thousands of years - the Bible is still the most published and purchased book in the history of literature. Most people can quote a scripture without even having the realization that what they're saying has come from the Bible. The words of this book have given people hope, faith, and healing for centuries.

Scripture has stood the test of time, but has it earned authority in our lives to the point that we listen to what it has to say? Do those of us who profess Christ as our savior give the Bible credence when it comes to making decisions? Those are a couple of hard questions to consider. Today there are many challenges to the stories in the Bible, yet archeology is daily finding proof that Bible events truly took place. The best way to come to your own conclusions is to actually read it. It might be surprising to see how what the Bible has to say influences your decision making process.