PROGRAM W-1744
It wasn’t that many years ago that owning a cell phone was a novelty. Few people had them, they were very expensive, and they were large, clumsy things. Today, none of us can imagine life without that phone—in our purse, our pocket, or hooked onto our clothes in some way. While they are so compact, it’s amazing all the features you can have on your phone now.
I got an email from someone asking, “What would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?” I decided this was worth thinking about! Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Consider the unique power of this book we call the Bible.
No other book and no other writings can convict people of sin, discern the thoughts and intents of a person’s heart, and reveal the fact that they are lost sinners in the presence of a Holy God. It is alive and active. You really can’t say that about any other book.
I think of a friend of mine who came to saving faith simply because a co-worker lived a godly, peaceful life before her, and then challenged her to simply “read the Bible.” She began a three-month program of reading the gospels in every translation should could buy. Then, on her knees one night, by herself, she simply could no longer resist Jesus. The Word of God had penetrated what she describes as a very sinful, selfish heart and, falling in love with Jesus, she confessed her sins and surrendered her life to him.
The Word of God is powerful! We really need to seriously give it a much higher place of importance in our lives.
So, what if we treated our Bibles like we treat our smart phones? What would happen?
1. We would carry it with us at all times—because you never leave home without that phone, do you? Do you take a Bible to work? Do you have one with you when you travel? You can’t read it if you don’t have a copy with you. So, the first thing we ought to do is carry it with us everywhere. There are small editions that easily fit in a purse, briefcase, or pocket. Of course, it’s very easy to have the entire Bible on your phone. I encourage you to take your Bible with you everywhere. Not as a showpiece or like it’s a lucky charm, but just so you’ll have it there with you when you need it.
2. How many times a day do you look at your smart phone, read a message, or check out some information? For some, that number would be pretty high. Now suppose we referred to the Bible several times a day. Suppose, when there was a vacant moment in our day, instead of wasting it on a newspaper or surfing the internet, we just read a chapter or passage from God’s Word? It’s a living, active book—this would definitely have an impact on our lives.
3. When you have an emergency of some sort—a flat tire, a sick child, a broken pipe, a frightening event of some kind—don’t you grab your phone and immediately call for help? In fact, one of the main reasons I have a cell phone is the safety factor. It can be a lifeline when you face an emergency, when you’re lost, when you’re troubled. . .whatever. Similarly, then, what about the Word of God? Do you turn to it in an emergency, when you’re frightened, or when you’re troubled?
The Psalmist said, “I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:25). And again, “I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them” (Psalm 119:52). Often the Bible is the last place we go for help when we’re in trouble, so we truly need to re-train ourselves to go there first in an emergency. This is one example of how important it is to memorize scripture: In those emergencies, we have that active, living word stored in our heads; it’s there to guide us, comfort us, and calm our fears; it’s available to us even when we aren’t able to literally open the Book and read from it.
I remember years ago when suddenly I was confronted with what appeared to be a very serious family situation. I was frightened—I didn’t know what to do, and it looked like it could be very serious. My first reaction was to call a good friend and get her counsel, but she was not answering her phone. I left messages and kept re-dialing her number, and was becoming more and more upset that she wasn’t available when I needed her. It was one of those teaching moments when the Spirit of God convicted me. I could hear his quiet voice saying, “Why would you call her before you call me?”
I want to say it again: The Word of God is like no other book. It is alive. The words are not dead words on paper. When you need something from God, those words will come alive to you. There will be something right there in the Bible that you will know is there for you in that particular situation. You may have read that passage many times before but, at that moment, the words are alive and active and speak to your heart like no other words ever could.
4. How many smart phones have you given or received as a gift? Especially for the younger generation, giving them the latest updated phone—with all the bells and whistles—is the best gift you could give them. My niece told me that her son in college had ruined his cell phone, so he asked his mom to please send him a new one. She decided to buy a new one for herself and send him her phone—which was plenty good but just not the latest edition. She put her old phone in the box that her new one came in, and mailed it off to him. The next day, he called and said, “Mom, I was so excited when I saw that box. I thought you were sending me that new phone. . .and then I opened it and found your old one inside.”
I chuckled when she told me that story—to think of how much these young people dote on their cell phones. It is like an extension of themselves. And do they ever know how to use it! They amaze me!
Why don’t we give the Bible as a gift more often? It might not be received with as much enthusiasm as a new cell phone, but it’s worth a lot more and will do a lot more good. Do your children know how you value the Word of God? Are they aware that it is worth more to you than a new phone—or any other book in the world? When you give a Bible to them, it is an investment in their lives and it endures forever.
Have you ever reached for your cell phone, only to discover that the battery is dead or, for some reason, it’s not working? That will never happen with the Word of God. It is eternally alive and active. Psalm 119:89 says, “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” There are few things that will last until eternity, and the Word of God is one of them. It never changes and it never loses its power.
Did your phone ever get disconnected because you hadn’t paid the bill? That will never happen with the Word of God because Jesus paid it all. You’ll never get disconnected, and there will be no dropped calls!
I really want to encourage you to get serious about the Word of God. Are you reading it everyday? Do you have a plan for reading the Bible? Many Christians treat the Bible like a magazine, like casual reading. They pick it up, turn to something familiar, read a passage or two, and that’s it. It’s hit and miss, off and on. . .and then they wonder why they aren’t growing spiritually.
The Word of God is the food that we need to be mature, strong Christians. You can’t just pick at it. You have to be a serious student and lover of the Bible if you want to know the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. I don’t know why we so often think of reading the Bible as our duty. The enemy of your soul doesn’t want you to get hooked on God’s Word, because then you’re going to be strong and not susceptible to his temptations and deceptions. Keeping you from being a consistent Bible student is one of his main goals. But I can testify that if you are truly born from above, having a regular daily diet of God’s Word into your mind and heart is transformational.
My mother left me the wonderful legacy of loving the Bible. She was a simple woman with just a high school education. Her only career was raising three kids and being a good wife, but she studied the Bible for herself all her life. Most days when I would get up, I’d find my mom in the kitchen, getting breakfast started, and sitting down with her Bible. She loved the Bible, and she wore out many in her 93 years on this earth. At her memorial service we presented all eight grandchildren with one of her worn-out Bibles, with her notes on almost every page. That is the greatest legacy any parent can leave their children—a deep love of God’s Word.
I’ve discovered that many people just don’t know how to approach reading the Bible. No one has ever taught them or encouraged them to have a structured, systematic way to get into the Word of God.
I’ve written a Bible study entitled, “A Guide on Getting to Know God,” and it is written to give you clear help in how you can establish a meaningful approach to reading the Bible. It will also help you put that necessary discipline into place. It does take discipline to set aside a time each day and have a plan to read the Bible, but it pays off in huge dividends!
Years ago when I first became serious about following Jesus, I began to spend time in the Bible and I developed a structured plan that has worked for me. It takes me into all parts of the Old and New Testament, and it really has made a huge difference in my life. “A Guide on Getting to Know God” is a short study and it’s easy to complete, and it will help you get started reading your Bible for all it’s worth.