The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
Bibles filled a shelf in my office. Over the years the collection of various versions had grown from one to many.
Each New Year’s Day, I select a copy to use throughout the coming year. Underlined verses and notes remind me of what I was going through when I used a particular Bible. Words of thankfulness, sadness and grief often accompany highlighted Scripture that offered peace, comfort and instruction.
As I read the notes, memories of past events and God’s promises, faithfulness and provision filled my mind. Wonder overflowed at how He protected me in dire circumstances. When I thought problems were too big, God made a way through.
At the start of this year, I chose The Voice and looked forward to the easily understood version. However, as I opened it, pages started slipping out. I stuck them back in and every day more and more would come loose. As the year progressed, handfuls of Scripture tried to escape every time I opened the Bible.
What should I do? I liked that version and reading the journal of my life written inside. If I bought a new one, my notes and underlining would be lost.
As I pondered options, I thought of my other Bibles. A copy of the King James was the first one when I was in fourth grade. At school, if we sold a certain number of greeting cards, we received a Bible. For years that was my only Bible and the version used at my church. I memorized Psalm 23 and other Scriptures from the King James while in elementary school. Those verses remain firmly in my mind.
Around fifty years ago, I added a newer version of the Bible which was easier to follow. Gradually, a more extensive collection began with a study Bible, a small paperback for traveling, and some with a more contemporary language. After my dad passed away, I inherited his study Bible which was different from mine.
When I write devotionals, BibleGateway.com compares versions so I can determine the best one for each writing. Online Bibles also provide convenience and availability for people around the world.
How thankful I am to live in a country where Bibles are openly sold and anyone can have one without concern of being persecuted.
As I try to figure out what to do with my damaged Bible, stories come to mind of Christians around the world who would be grateful for any printed Scripture to study. Some churches have one copy for the whole church. In one community, each church member had one page of the Bible. Millions might be arrested for having even a page of God’s Word.
Hidden Bibles protect Christians from being imprisoned as they study and treasure the holy book. Arrests and imprisonments occur when governments forbid the possession of Bibles and think they can eliminate Christianity.
What a precious blessing to have one or multiple copies of the Bible. Unfortunately, a great number of people neglect to open the gift which can change lives.
Loving Father, the Bible is a cherished gift given to us. Lead us to study, learn and teach from it. Open hearts and minds to your inspired Word.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment