|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Search Me, O God"1 (Lyrics) |
My Bible fell apart. It was at the Bible discussion that I lead at the local Long Term Care Centre. I opened it to the passage that we were looking at that morning, and about half an inch of pages, still stuck together, fell out. The section started at John 1 where the first two verses say, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2 NKJV)
Later, I thought about the other Bibles that I have and what they have meant to us over the years. We have the Bible that my father and mother received when they were married in 1931. The hard, black cover is partly worn off from many years of daily use. Some of the pages are worn-looking as well. I also have the children's Bible my parents read to us when we were young, every day after the evening meal. There are beautiful pictures in it, and we would look at them and ask questions, and we would have such a good time. We looked forward to it every day. The cover is also very worn, on the verge of falling apart, and some of the pages are loose.
We have some Bibles in other languages as well. On occasion, I refer to some of them, and it made me aware again of how God's Word has been translated into so many different languages and has brought and does bring comfort to people all over the world.
Although these books of mine will be passed on to the next generation, obviously they won't last forever, but the words are engraved in our hearts, and we will try to live accordingly. Even though the books may in time disappear, the Word of God itself will never disappear. In the near future, I am going to have to buy a new Bible, but the words — God's words in it — will be the same and will last forever.
Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (NKJV)
Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (NKJV)
Seeing that God considers His Word to be so important that He will preserve it forever, likewise we need to consider it so important that we spend time reading it, studying it, memorizing it, and meditating on it.
It is good to meditate on these wonderful words of truth, words of comfort, and words of salvation. These words were written so many years ago, but they are still so important to our lives here and now, and will be for all who believe, always.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the inspiration that the writers of Your Word received. We also thank You that we can read it and apply it to our lives, here and now. We thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thursday, April 25, 2024 – In Mexico — Pray for an open door for the Gospel to be preached in the Vineyards of Northern Mexico this spring. Pray that we may be able to go, but if not, then pray for a local believer to deliver the word, so that the Good News of Jesus will be preached to the hundreds of migrant workers from Southern Mexico. Pray the salvation of many.
Vancouver CPC Alpha: "Please pray for the Alpha Ministry at Vancouver Chinese PC, being held from April 6 to June 29, in..." 
Daughter in US: "Update April 23, 2024; We are receiving short texts regularly now. Please continue to pray for her..." 
So true Joel. God bless.
Lovely devotional today Joel! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Joel. I too, have a collection of Bibles.
“A bible that’s falling apart is generally owned by someone who isn’t.”
Thank you Joel for reminding us of the value of old Bibles containing God’s Word. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Joel, as always thank you for your thoughts for today. It is wonderful to be partnering with you in this new ministry.
Blessings.
You know what they say:
A bible that is falling apart belongs to someone who isn’t!!
Much blessing and thank you for all your messages.
Hi
I loved your devotions and I have a question.
My bible is falling apart from using it every day for about 25 yrs. I am going to buy another one but what do I do with the falling apart one???.. I feel I can’t throw it in the garbage????? Help. Thanks.
Hi Joel;
I’ve thrown out a couple of well-used bibles, underlined all over the place, etc. I now have a new one that I can underline again and will probably underline stuff that jumps out at me in brand new places. I also have other translations as well. But I tend to always go back to the one that is starting to fall apart as well.
God’s word will last forever in our hearts.
Hi Joel;
Your last two daily devotionals referring to promises from your father and Bibles that have been and are part of your faith journey. I can very much relate to both these devotionals. I thank you for resurrecting in me many experiences and memories which are similar to yours. Thanks Joel. I am sure you have impacted others in the same way as I have been.
Blessings.
Hi there,
My parents were also married in 1931. Their wedding bible, children’s bible, as well as everything else we owned was burned when our house burned in 1944.
New bibles were purchased after and used as faithfully as before. I am still thankful that God’s word took in such a major place in their lives and subsequently my life as well.
Thank you for your interesting and thought-provoking devotionals.
The cover is falling off my Bible also. More duct tape and packing tape. I bought a new one a couple of years ago but it got left somewhere when I was out preaching supply and……… back to the old one. They say if a Bible is falling apart, its owner isn’t. Amen.
Greetings and Blessings,
Thank you for your Devotional, which I enjoyed very much!
There is a business, run by a very committed Christian family called Wallaceburg Bookbinding. They will rebuild and/or rebind your Bibles, back to “like new” condition, for a very small fee. They did our huge Family Bible which is over 150 years old, and it is beautiful once again! That way, you can keep your ‘beloved’ Bibles serviceable as long as you want to!
Dear Joel,
My paperback NIV that I use for SS cracked and a section of pages came out from the area of Romans where our Adult class has been studying intensively.
Your devotional fit. I thank God I was able to glue them in.
Keep writing.
I liked your devotional about the Bible. A few years ago my favorite Bible was in pretty bad shape and I decided to have it rebound – not cheap, and it took TWELVE WEEKS (I had to mail it to Kansas City, which I confess I did with some fear and trepidation) but I’m glad I did it, because it’s my old familiar one, the one I’ve used the most.
With every passing year, the Bible grows more precious to me. I’ve done a lot of studies that have helped me understand it better, and the more I learn, the more amazing it is.