To most people, the Bible is nothing more than a history book. To others, it is just a book that is put inside a nightstand drawer or placed on a shelf. To us who believe in Jesus, it is the Word of God.
I remember a story that my Pastor would often share.
In a home, there's a big book case. On top of it is the Holy Bible. In that home, there's a little boy and one day, he got curious, wondering what the big, dusty book was. So he grabbed a chair and reached out for the Bible. But his mother caught him and told him not to touch the book. He obeyed. But he was curious, so he tried again the next day, and the next, and the next. In every time he tried, his mother would find him and command him not to touch the book. Then finally he asked his mom, "Why won't you let me read it?" "Because it's the Word of God." His mother answered. "Then if it's God's, why don't you just return it to Him? You never read it anyway." said the boy.
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 that, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Our attitude to the Bible must be like the little boy's. Curious. Hungry. We must reach out for the Word.
But sadly, a lot have taken on the attitude of the mother, treating the Bible with unnecessary respect.
Many accept the Bible to be the Word of God but don't pay attention to what it says. They respect the Scriptures in a sense, but never take the time to read even just a chapter of the book.
The Bible is not an accessory to make people look holy. It is not an ornament to be displayed in homes, kept in pristine condition and never to be touched. It is the Word of God.
The Lord speaks through His written Word. As we read, we open our ears to listen to what He has to say, and God still speaks up to this very day and age. He speaks mainly through the Bible. That's how we get to know Him.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God says John 1:1. The Words of the Bible is God Himself according to this verse. But don't get it wrong. It's not the paper, not the cover, not the golden lining, not the ink, but the Words written in it which makes it God's very own work.
We have the convenience today that none of the men and women of the Scriptures had. Back then, they had to memorize everything so that the words could be passed on to the next generation. Back then, they had to hand write everything, and not everyone had access to the Words of God. But now, almost every bookstore has a Bible on their shelves.
The men of old treated the Words as a sacred gift. They obeyed what it said because they knew that obeying the words meant obeying God Himself.
Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God, says Matthew 4:4.
Jesus puts the Word of God in the same category as bread because the Bible feeds and strengthens our spirits just as bread feeds and strengthens our bodies.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12.
The Bible's not just a book.
However, why do a lot of people take it for granted?
As theologian Søren Kierkegaard puts it, "The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly."
Billy Sunday says, "The reason you don't like the Bible, you old sinner, is because it knows all about you."
Let me encourage you. The Bible is not as burdensome and condemning as many people think. It's the lies of the devil that keeps you away from this wonderful book, because the moment that you find out what the Bible really says, the devil is defeated.
God never ever condemns, remember that. He's a loving Father who's waiting for you to get to know Him and that only happens when you start reading the Bible.
"You Christians," says Mahatma Gandhi, "look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature."
It's time to change perspectives concerning the Word of God. Mahatma Gandhi, who was a Hindu, recognized the power of the Word, and we Christians have this power in our hands. Must it remain taken for granted?
Power, glory, authority, blessings, transformation, these are all in the Bible. Let us take hold of these things which God freely offers to us.
*Scriptures taken from the New International Version.
