Dec
29
2012
A Bible In Our Hands
Posted in Bible 2 Comments
My oldest daughter is a web designer.
She designed this blog site for me.
She knows me well and somehow captured my personality in her design.
She has been asked by the firm she works for to learn other aspects of web design.
Aspects of web design that she knows nothing about…yet!
Thankfully, she is a self learner and can teach herself just about anything through books.
Rather than send her to a class, she asked her company to buy her the books she will need.
She has been reading and learning and is mastering the next phase of web design.
In fact, just recently she used this blog as a test case and specifically formatted the content display for a mobile device, since so many of you read it that way.
Isn’t that what education is all about?
NOT schooling…but education.
There is a difference.
Education is a well-rounded-ness.
It is being well read, articulate, able to reason, able to defend a point of view.
It is not book knowledge and studying for a test.
It is learning how to learn.
Education is not spoon feeding information.
It is not about knowing something only for a short time.
Education is about making something your own.
It is knowing something because you are eager to learn something new.
When we think of schooling, we think of a building.
When we think of education, we think of life long learning.
In some of the more restricted countries, people with glasses were looked down upon.
If they had glasses it meant they could read.
If they could read, they could think for themselves.
If they could think for themselves, they could question those in authority.
Education is feared when a government wants total control of its people.
Robotic citizens are easy to keep in line…no questioning…just acceptance.
Educated citizens question…they want to better themselves and their society.
We have dual citizenship.
We are citizens of a country here on earth.
We are citizens of heaven.
How appropriate that God should reveal himself in words.
The Word that was written down by ordinary men…inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The Word that was originally read out loud so many could hear.
This was the main purpose of the Reformation.
Getting God’s Word into the hands of the people.
The printing press, with its movable type, allowed for mass communication.
Information became unrestricted…transcending classes and borders.
It threatened the political and religious powers.
Literacy increased.
Literacy of God’s Word increased.
Instead of one accepted language that kept God’s Word in the hands of the elite, the Bible could now be printed in their own language.
People now had God’s Word in their hands.
We are the recipients of the blessings of the Reformation.
We have a Bible in our homes…some have more than one.
Having a Bible on our shelves and reading the Bible in our hands are two different things.
The latter being the most important.
Oh how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. You commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey Your word. I have not departed from Your laws for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. (Psalm 119:97-104)
People fought and died so that we could have God’s Word in our hands.
Governments fear God’s Word.
Satan hates God’s Word.
Jesus is the Word made flesh.
Jesus is all God has to say to us.
If we can read…we must read.
If someone cannot read…we must teach them to read.
Read God’s Word to know Him.
Read God’s Word to know how much He loves you.
Read God’s Word to know the way of salvation…the way Home.
We really have no excuse!
We must be a Biblically literate…Biblically educated people.
As the New Year approaches, purpose in your heart to read God’s Word.
Read God’s Word in your home…with your family…for your personal devotions.
Spend the year with Him.
You will never be the same!
We should tremble at the wonder of it all!
God’s Word…in our Hands!
Especially enjoyed reading this particular column. I too love education and especially our education in the Word. It is always great to learn something new from God’s Word plus I find it enjoyable to learn a new word to use every week. Recently added were the words ‘salvific’ and anathema. All a part of studying God’s Word!
Al,
It is obvious that you love to study God’s Word.
It is obvious in your teaching…and from what I hear…obvious in your men’s Bible study as well.
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.
Gina