I recently received an email that asked a question that went similar to this; "What would it be like if the world was as interested in taking their Bible with them as they are about taking their cell phone with them?" Well, it went something like that. Email is a great thing to get, at times. It was entitled, "The Cell phone verses the Bible." Then you have someone like me sending you stuff you really don't want, and as a friend in Dallas, who is originally from Oklahoma, asked me one time, why do you send me so many forwards? She may or may not read this, and she will definitely grin. However, the question is valid. I once asked the question, "What did we do without cell phones 20 years ago? Some people have 2 – 3 cell phones and it always funny to watch people try to talk on 3 phones at once. We will go out of our way to find the phones, because we gotta have it. What about our Bible though? How important is it?
I can remember when one of my many Sunday school teachers made the statement, "One day your Bible may be taken from you and you will have to remember what the scripture tells us. So memorize it." I know a man, whom I love dearly, who takes scripture, writes them down on index cards, and then starts memorizing them. I have heard him quote as many as 10 verses from one passage. This man is in his mid 70's, and God's Word is vitally important to him. He loves the Word of God. Another person might ask why he loves God's Word so much. The answer would be this; because he loves everything about God!
The Psalmist had a lot to say about God's Word, and one that I thought of was found in Psalm 119:130. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." The problem here is, people must read it, study it, read it, and study it; get the point? I know several people who read the Bible through every year. I was required to do it in Seminary and have started trying to do it again. However, being able to read it through is great! But, studying it is a lost art. Even some preachers don't study it to get messages anymore. They'll read a book, or borrow someone's outline, and then perform a 15 – 20 minute talk. Some will even raise their voice so they can be heard. When I started really studying God's Word, I found really interesting things in it. Most of all, there are principles for life set in it, which we can all learn about and live by.
Psalm 119:105 is a very popular scripture, which many do not pay attention too. It says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Now think about that scripture just for a moment. I made this comment in an earlier devotional, and its one many have heard before. Sin will keep you from studying the Bible, and studying the Bible will keep you from sin. A couple of thought from this particular scripture would be;
THE BIBLE GUIDES MY FEET.
One thing is for sure; The Word of God will never lead you in the wrong direction. If HIS Word is a lamp unto your feet and you follow its principles, you cannot go down the wrong path. It will keep you from doing things you shouldn't do. However, to understand HIS Word and allow it to minister to you, you must be willing to allow God to change your mind on your opinions you may have on certain scriptures. If you've already got your mind made up, you will not ever learn anything.
THE BIBLES LIGHTS MY PATH.
In a dark, sinful world, you will find that through God's Word you can find your way. It warns us of the evils in this world, and if we study it, we will be aware of all the bad things in the dark. It will help us to overcome the things that strike at us like a snake. HIS Word is a two edged sword that, not only protects us, but also shows us our wrongs.
Then another popular scripture that most of us learned as a child concerning God's Word. It's found in Psalm 119:11. "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against God."
This verse actually shows us the down fall of, not only America, but of the world. We have not hidden HIS Word in our hearts at all. The principles that our forefather, here in America, founded our Constitutions and beliefs upon are being thrown to the free will. The Bible clearly lays out tons of things we must or must not do, but I want to share just three or four.
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THERE IN ONE GOD.
In Exodus 20:1 -6 tells us, and I'm paraphrasing, "I AM THE LORD thy GOD and thou shalt not have any other gods before ME." Now this hits home, doesn't it. I heard a very good friend, at vacation Bible school, say, "MY GOD, IS GOD." It kind of reminded me of the movie, "The Ten Commandments," when Ramsey said, "Moses' God is God." Solomon said, "Fear God and keep HIS commandments; for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13.) To our shame, America does not really fear God. If we did, we wouldn't ignore HIS Word.
THE BIBLE TELLS US TO DISCIPLINE OUR CHILDREN.
We wonder why children are so rebellious now. It is simply because man has always thought there was a better way. Our ideas of discipline is to ground kids for a month, just to let it be over in less than a day, or to make them take a time out. My mother had a solution that went in the ways of God's Word. Take the rod and try to break it on them and they will obey. The Bible tells us that we need to spank our child, but we choose not too.
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE SHOULD SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THIS WORLD.
It tells us that we cannot serve two masters. It tells us that there is a way, which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof, is the ways of death. It tells us to Love no the world, neither the things of the world, for if you love the world the love of the Father is not in you. Do we listen? The correct answer is, "We hear it, but we don't listen to it."
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE NEED CHRIST.
Lost people need Christ because they are headed to hell. If you are lost and you die that way, you are guaranteed eternity in hell and the lake of fire. Eternal separation from the one and only true God is your reward should you die in your sinful state. However, it also tells us that your sins are paid for, in full, and salvation is there for the asking. Three steps to salvation are all that is needed if the Lord is dealing with you. ACKNOWLEDGE that HE is right and you are wrong.
HIS Word tells us that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and there is a penalty for it. The wages of sin is death, but you are offered a way out. In Romans 3:23 and 6:23 we are told these things. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Second, you must BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. You must believe that HE died on the cross for your sins according to the scripture and that was buried and rose again on the third day according to the scripture. HIS death would be in vain if HIS resurrection didn't happen. This proves that HE IS THE LORD GOD.
Third, you must CONFESS that you are nothing without HIM. Romans 10:10 tells us, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." You must confess to the world that HE has saved you. You must confess to HIM that you are a sinner in need of HIS salvation.
IS OUR BIBLE AS IMPORTANT AS OUR CELL PHONES?
The answer to this question can only be answered by you. However, as far as most of the world goes, the actual answer is NO. Our real answer should be NO anyway. The following statement should follow the "no" answer; "Nothing is more important than my Bible. I can call people to get directions in which way I need to go in cities, states, etc., but the Bible gives me direction in my life.
May we all seek the directions that God has given us in HIS WORD. If we really seek it, the directions will lead us straight to HIM. So, next time you are looking for your cell phone or any other device, be sure to have HIS WORD handy too. After all, we need real direction in our life, don't we?
