Five Minute Friday - Specific

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

be more specific

specific and measurable

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I taught high school writing at a homeschool co-op for several years, and when we worked on writing persuasive essays, we talked a lot about having a "specific and measurable call to action" in the conclusion. Basically, if the purpose of the essay is to convince the reader to take action in some way, that action should be specified. Some students caught on to this easily, but other students had trouble giving a clear call to action. When I sent out the weekly emails to students summarizing the homework, I tried to set that example by being specific about the homework! Read or review these pages. Write this essay, with this word count, and submit it by this due date. And I reminded them often that if you follow all the instructions, you will probably get a good grade. 

While it's certainly true that the Bible doesn't usually give detailed and specific instructions to each individual person about very specific situations, the principles we learn in the Bible will set us on the right path. If we spend time in God's Word and do our best to understand and follow his instructions, we get to know God and recognize his leading and how the Holy Spirit is guiding us.

God's Word is specific about what we need to do to be saved  (If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ~Romans 10:9). 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

~James 1:22~

The instructions are specific that there is only one specific way to be saved - through Jesus. (Jesus answered, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ~John 14:6) (There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. ~Acts 4:12)

The Bible gives a clear call to action telling us our purpose (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ~Matthew 28:19-20). 

And much like me telling students that "if you have questions, ask and I'll be happy to help!" God tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."  (James 1:5)

Specific, measurable goals. Specific instructions and help. To get the good grade of hearing him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

 The great majority of people are “wandering generalities” rather than “meaningful specifics”. The fact is that you can't bit a target that you can't see. If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. You have to have goals. ~Zig Ziglar

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I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific. ~Lily Tomlin

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This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Specific".

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