Do You Own This Best Seller?

Google “What is the best seller of all time?" and here's what you'll get: The Christian Bible is recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 to 7 billion copies sold and distributed (Ai).

If you own this best-seller, what are you doing with it? I don’t mean the Bible on your phone. I mean a hard copy, one you can touch, turn pages, find references, and mark verses that speak to you.

Did you know the Bible can help you live a balanced life? You can’t get everything you need only on Sunday, or even in a Bible study. God’s word is to be used for instruction, conviction, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It will help you be fully equipped to do good works. The world would be a better place if people took this seriously.

Jesus said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). It’s a way of saying, “Earthly food is needed daily, and so is the Scripture.” We take time to eat, don’t we? We also need to take time to read our Bibles.

To read God’s Word is a choice. Solomon said there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and we tend to find time for things we really want to do.

If you can’t easily find a certain book in the Bible, check the Table of Contents for the page number. But a good way to get started is to choose a Book of the Bible and read a chapter a day.

Genesis is very interesting, but so is Matthew. John is one of my favorites, but so is the Book of Psalms. Remember: All God’s Word is truth, and His righteous judgments endure forever (Psalm 119:160, 151).

Do you own the best seller of all time? Great! Do you read it?

If not, I challenge you to pick it up, choose a book, and get started. It's well worth your time!

Pixabay: Bible, Scripture, Reading; pedro_wroclaw.

Words More Precious Than Gold

Do you think words can really be this precious? I think if you spend much time in the longest chapter of the Bible, you could be convinced (Psalm 119:127).

I’ve read Psalm 119 many times and memorized a few verses, but I’ve never done a word study. This week, I chose to look through all 176 verses to find those that mentioned God’s “word.” It was easy since Psalm 119 is laid out in 22 sections.

My concordance described “word” this way: (1) a combination of letters communicating an understood meaning, and (2) a special revelation from God.  

Before I share some inspirational thoughts from Psalm 119, I want to share four things God Himself says about His word:

1. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His word never will (Matthew 24:35).
2. God's word has a purpose, and He will never let it return to Him empty (Isaiah 55:11).
3. No Scripture came by the will of man, but the Holy Spirit moved upon men as they wrote (2 Peter 1:20-21).
4. All Scripture is God-breathed for instruction, conviction, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

Keep those things in mind as you read your Bible each day.

One of my favorite scriptures has always been Psalm 119:11: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

What could be better? Do you want to please Almighty God? He tells you how; no guesswork needed.

I discovered eighteen scriptures about God’s word in Psalm 119, but I’ll share six just now:

1.   With His word, God acts in goodness towards us (v. 65)

2.   His word strengthens us (v. 28)

3.   God answers prayer; His word gives us hope (v. 147)

4.   His word is eternal, faithful to ALL generations (v. 89-90)

5.   We gain understanding from His word (v. 169)

6.   His word can be sung (v. 172) (see also Ephesians 5:19)

Start seeking your own choice verses this week.

Remember, you have something more precious than gold at your fingertips.

Pixabay: Gold is money. Gold bar shop. Gold image. hamiltonleen.

A Book for Life

 A BOOK for LIFE

I’m a writer but I’ve been trying to read more. That means magazines, books and on-line articles. Inspiration and ideas are never in short supply.

Reading has always been a favorite pastime. As a young child I would “read” the pictures in Dad’s set of encyclopedias. Mom read aloud from Mother Goose Rhymes, Little Golden Books and my Bible story book that did not have pictures. I kept that book for years because I learned to read it for myself.

Being literate about Bible characters and stories has helped me culturally. Societal references to Noah, Job, Peter or Paul don’t leave me feeling like an outsider. I know their stories personally.

Learning for Life

The Bible, to this day, is the only book I have not outgrown.

As I got older the stories carried deeper meanings. Biblical settings could be located on a map. The proverbs made more sense. Jesus’ oft-quoted sayings became more challenging.

Though I have read the Bible for several decades, I do not yet understand it all. I enjoy learning new things from each reading. In it I find answers I seek. The Bible is my book for life. Why?

It is a spiritual book unhindered by the passing of time.

Words of Life and Power

It is God’s Word, living and active, powerful and penetrating, judging even the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). It was not written by the will of men. Scriptures were written as men were moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit on what to write (2 Peter 1:20-21).

I recently read of a survey by the American Bible Society. It reported that 87% of American households own a Bible. That sounds great---so what’s the problem?

Only 30% of those surveyed said they had read more than a few passages or stories from them.

You Are Invited 

Picture the Bible as a banquet room full of the best food choices on earth. You are invited to enter and freely partake. It’s impossible to consume all items at once, so you select a few and sit down to enjoy them.

The banquet host is in no hurry to clear things away. You freely go back for more. Now and then you have a question about one of the dishes. 

Servers appreciate questions. It means you are fully engaged in your experience.

It's Personal

Two basic questions impact the Bible as a book for life:

     1. If you have a Bible, how often do you read it?

     2. If you don’t have a Bible, have you attempted to get one?

The Bible is a spiritual, life-giving banquet waiting for you. Pick an item of interest and get started.

Don’t worry about understanding everything. 

Just ask God to help you and He will. After all, He has a vested interest. It’s His Word.