Our family had a FAMILY BIBLE! It had all the appearance of having been around since the inception of Bibles. You might understand it’s aged look if you ever lived in Bermuda and experienced the high humidity that constantly engulfs the island. I recall how, on occasion I would look at it, especially the pictures, but never grasping the importance of its message. Although many of the precepts that it presented were a part of our family, as an individual, it had no relevance to the life-style that I envisioned for my life.
After I became a Christian in accordance with the teaching of Scripture, the embracing of Christ as my Lord and Savior, I began to notice how many homes had a copy of the Scriptures, the Holy Bible, placed in conspicuous places. However, I also noticed that the life patterns within the home did not conform to the standards of what I was reading in THE BOOK. I began to also notice that many individuals made reference to it, but inaccurately.
One day, while reading the Book of Nehemiah, some thoughts surfaced that I had not understood previously. (8:1 and following) The people “gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate” and there they requested that Ezra “bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.” Ezra listened to their request and brought it there. Then all who had “understanding” listened from early morning to “midday” and they were “attentive”. When he opened the Book, ALL the people “stood up”. He then “blessed the Lord, the great God”. And all the people “answered”, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
The sequence of events is stunning to envision, but it happened. “The Levites explained the law; they read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading”. In verse 9, they “taught” and “when they heard the words of the law”, they were weeping!
When did you hear of such an experience in our own time? When they heard these words, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (v10) The next thought we catch is “because they understood the words which had been known to them.”
We know that many people have copies of the Bible, but do they read or listen to it being read; are they moved in their thinking because of what they hear; does it stimulate them into action?
Is it a dust catcher in your home, or an activator, because you read it and understand it?
ETCetera 