A Book Report

I left my bible in the car last night. Its only 10 feet outside my front door, but rather than braving the chilly morning I decided to pull out The Message (a translation that says the same thing but in a more contemporary way). I have to say - its fun to read The Message because it makes certain parts of Scripture that often seem confusing or outdated come alive. But it also felt a little empty. I don't know, there's just something about my bible. . . it isn't the same opening up a different book.

I had a friend in high school who really loved Jesus, and I remember one particular afternoon she was showing me her new bedroom furniture. I noticed her bible (a rather enormous one, I have to admit) tucked half under the covers of her bed. She smiled her sweet little smile and said that she sleeps with it there because she loves it so much. Is that weird? Maybe a little.

But I get it. I don't sleep with my bible, but I understand the sentiment. When you accept as truth what God has given us in His word; when your heart is filled to overflowing with the joy of salvation through Christ. . . well, you just can't get enough of His word.

I love my bible because I know exactly where all of my favorite passages are. I have challenging and encouraging phrases underlined so that when I flip through I notice their presence there. I remember carrying that bible around Israel and reading stories about Christ that happened on the very earth I was standing upon.

I love my bible because I love Jesus and it is the closest I will ever get to Him this side of heaven.

So, how do you feel about your bible? If you have the same bible you were using in 6th grade it might be time for an upgrade. A worthwhile investment in my opinion (although it is pretty awesome to look through my old bible and laugh at the weird things I thought necessary to underline).

You don't have to sleep with it. . . but spend enough time immersed in it that you begin to fall in love with the words that share the very heart of God. Know it well enough to allow it to mold you and change you into the image of Christ.

Don't read your bible just to read it - to check it off a list of super spiritual activities. It won't mean much to you then. . . Read it with an open heart that longs to be changed by it.

If you don't spend a lot of time in God's word it might be hard at first. It might feel forced or awkward to sit and meditate on words that you don't understand or fully believe. But don't give up after the first try. . . go back again and again and again. And one day you'll realize that somewhere in the course of your trying you did it.

You met the Creator of the Universe in those flimsy pages and fell in love.