The Beatitudes
Do you read many blogs? I have a couple that I read on a regular basis, because I enjoy them and because I’m able to learn from them. One of the greatest tools we have as learners is other people. Dave Ramsey suggests you find someone who is doing what you want to do well and study them. It’s like a living breathing classroom.
One of the most well known bloggers in cyberspace is Michael Hyatt, the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. He seems to have a gazillion subscribers and he has multiple comments left on each one of his posts. Because he’s been so successful at blogging, he is willing to share his knowledge with others both on his blog and in his book Platform. Some of his suggestions are:
- Tell a story and have a teaching point or two at the end of the story.
- Provide a step-by-step explanation or generate a list of important things to know about a topic.
- Answer your readers questions.
- Explain the rationale behind a decision.
- Use a powerful quote and expound on it.
- Report on an interesting conversation
There’s another great writer I follow on a daily basis that uses the same techniques in His writing. His book has been the number one top seller for as long as books have been in print. You may have heard about it. In fact, you may own a copy. It’s called the Bible and the author is God. He was implementing the steps Michael Hyatt teaches long before Michael ever took his first breath. After reading Michael’s work, I believe he learned what he knows by sitting at the feet of this Great Writer. He truly is a man after God.
God tells story after story throughout the Bible followed by teaching points. Many of us refer to them as parables today. Some of my favorites are the parable of the Mustard Seed [Matthew 13:31-32], the Pearl [Matthew 13:45-46], the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:30-37] and the Lost Son [Luke 15:11-32], just to name a few.
He gives us lists to follow for quality life, such as the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and then again in the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. He answers our questions throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. The parables are where He regularly explained the rationale behind what He was teaching. He quotes the Old Testament many times in the New Testament and further expounds upon it, such as Matthew 5:27-30 where He talks about adultery. He also reports on numerous conversations great men and women of faith had with God and how we can learn from them.
Why am I pointing this out to you? Because so many of us seek answers or direction from blogs or even to be fed spiritually by them when all we need to meet those needs is the Word of God. 2 Timothy :16-17 tells us,
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
While it is great to read other people’s writing to gain their personal insight, all the insight and direction we need in life can be found in the Word of God.
Today, I realized God’s Word can teach me how to become a better writer. What has His Word taught you today?
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