The Precious Word of God!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

As a North American who was brought up in a Christian home, I was always surrounded by Bibles.  I remember my dad’s office had a book shelf behind the desk and he had numerous different Bibles along with concordances and other study tools. In my parent’s bedroom, there was always a Bible on the night stand and I think there was one that “lived” on the kitchen table, too.   I remember as a child having not one, but multiple Bibles of my own.  I didn’t count it a privilege to have a Bible; it was just the norm.   

This week I was reminded multiple times how precious the Word of God is and what a privilege it is to have a Bible and be able to read it.  We had a group here from Xenia, Ohio and one of the things we did was pass out Bibles. 

After doing children’s ministry and passing out shoes, clothing, school supplies, candies (you know, all the good stuff), we announced that each student would be receiving their own personal Bible.  To my surprise and delight, the kids cheered.  Yes, cheered!  They were thankful for the other things we gave them, but they cheered when they heard they were going to get a Bible.

As the team handed them out, I watched the face of one young guy, probably 12 years old and definitely one of the “cool kids” in the class.  He had a silly grin on his face as he received his Bible and he held it very gently.  He rubbed the cover and turned it over a couple of times to really have a good look at it.  Then he sat down, opened it up, and began to read.  There was chaos all around him, but he was drawn into the Word and nothing was going to pull him away.  God spoke to me in that moment and I don’t think I will ever forget the picture of this boy’s face. 

My prayer for this young man is that God will minister to him in a very real and powerful way through His Word.  That he will grow to become a man after God’s heart.  That God’s Word will be alive and active in his life and accomplish much!  

 I have another prayer, although, and this one is for me…Lord, may I know what a privilege it is to hold Your Word in my hand, to read Your Love letter to me.  May I have an unquenchable thirst for your Word.  May I value Your Word as the treasure It is and allow Its truths to speak to my spirit and change me into who You want me to be.