Jump Start # 931

Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.”

The Bible is the foundation of the Christian faith. It defines what we believe; it shows what we are supposed to do; and it reveals what is going to happen. Without the Bible we have no structure, purpose or definition. This is why the Bible is used so heavily in our sermons and classes. We want to know it, believe it, follow it and use it. We quote the Bible at weddings and refer to it in funerals. We stay up late at night reading it. When there are questions that we do not know the answer to, we get digging in the Bible to find out. Through the years the Bible becomes our friend, companion, tool, and help.

Recently, I looked into someone else’s Bible. Sometimes I will see one in the church building that someone left or if I visit someone’s home and see a Bible on a table, I’ll take a look at it. Have you ever done that? It’s a fascinating adventure. I’ll see papers stuffed in some Bibles. In some cases, too many papers. That can be hard on the binding. Old bulletins and class outlines. Sometimes there are poems that have been cut out and kept in there. Years ago I remember some people would press a four leaf clover in their Bible. That’s just the start. Flipping through someone’s Bible you’ll find verses underlined or highlighted. Sometimes there will be notes written in the margins. All of that gives insight into what is important to a person.

All of that got me thinking about my Bibles. I have a bunch. Two of them are most important to me—one is my study Bible. It’s a mess. Pages are loose and it’s a mess to look at. It looks like a truck ran over it. The binding is busted. The cover is chipping off and faded. I love that old Bible and have spent a long time with it. The other is my preaching Bible. I can’t use my study Bible in the pulpit because pages would fall out and it would be a disaster. My preaching Bible has a lot of words circled and underlined. If someone took a look at those Bibles of mine, they would see something about me. They would see what stood out with me and what I wanted to remember. I have a lot of little thoughts and quotes written on the back “white pages” of my Bible. These are things that I picked up from listening to others. They struck a cord with me and I wanted to remember them so I wrote it on those pages. I have a couple of bulletin items taped on those pages as well. Years ago I was given the Bible of an old preacher. There’s nothing in it except his name. Nothing underlined. Nothing circled. Nothing taped or written on the back pages. Clean and nice. I wish that he had jotted things in it. I would have picked up on some of the things that impressed him. As it is, there’s nothing there.

How about your Bible? What does it look like? If someone were to open it up and flip through it, what would they find? Our Bibles are our tools. Make it comfortable and useful to you. Fill it with the things that will help you. My old study Bible has charts and timelines and dates written in it.

God’s word is a lamp and a light. It’s there to help us. Use it. Become familiar with it. Make your Bible user friendly to you. Those electronic versions on our phones and tablets are very handy and useful and I have several that I like. However, nothing beats that feel in your hand of your own Bible. Get it out—flip through it. Put your notes in it. Underline. Circle words. Make it your own. The more you do that, the more you will become very comfortable with it.

I’ve heard it said that a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person whose life is not falling apart. There is a connection there. Nothing beats the Bible. Raise the hood and get inside it and learn it. You’ll see, very shortly, that it has an amazing effect upon you. The more time you spend with the word, the better you become. The Bible is that way. It’s living and active and it works on an honest and good heart.

Give me the Bible…is an old hymn that we sing. It’s also the mindset and the motto of Christians.

Roger