The Worth of the Word

Opening my Bible is a whole new experience after last week. Every time I casually flip through the pages, I am suddenly struck with the fact that I have God's WORD in my hands - in my own language - in multiple versions and translations, whatever colour I want, with notes, without notes - goodness, you can even choose who WRITES the notes! And yet, my fellow Christians did not have this, some still do not. I know it is a common topic and realization for Christians to come to - this love and appreciation of Scripture, but I wonder if it really truly sticks. I mean, perhaps it is so commonly talked about because it happens so often in each of our lives. I mean, I know I have had this realization before, why am I having it again? It must be that I have again fallen into a complacency; taking my Bible for granted. I pray that now that I have names, faces, and a time line of the events which have blessed me with the unfathomable blessing of reading God's word, I will never play down it's value.

I think of Jerome and his work on the Vulgate. How appalled he would be at what became of his efforts to give man the word! That the church would raise this Latin translation to such a high elevation that all others were banned is frightening. Yet it shows how prized the Scriptures were - how holy they were considered. Unfortunately we must remember not to worship the words themselves but the God behind the words - the voice, the power.

Then there is Wycliffe, one of my personal heroes. He was a scholar, a teacher and a writer. He never backed down from preaching and writing the truth. He wasn't afraid of confrontation because he had discovered God's word. His life is a perfect example of the effects of God's word, truth in man's lives. He lost all fear of man and lived only to serve God. I am amazed at his efforts and success to translate the Bible and get it out to people - all without a printing press! Would that I had such zeal and perseverance!

Then we have Martin Luther, that great and unforgettable name. Living "sola scriptura". Defining his faith in his 95 Theses and passionately defending his case. I can identify with his ache for the truth to be heard, that change come to the Church. I see issues, stagnancy in our churches today and I feel his God-given passion to instigate change.

William Tyndale lived the life of an outlaw, giving up every comfort and safety, all in an effort to get the Bible in English to the people of England. He also was not afraid to speak the truth even to kings! By his efforts the common people of England received God's word. They treasured every verse - giving loads of hay to simply borrow the Bible for a day. I cannot fathom that kind of love for the Word but I wish that I had it! Tyndale's life also encourages me that God has a plan for my life and that He can make it happen no matter the circumstances that I think are in the way. If it is His will, nothing can stop Him!

Finally, I must speak of groups like the Puritans and Anabaptists. They took everything back to the Bible. They lived the Word to the best of their ability. Today I think people put the Bible in the section of how to think, treat others...basically how to be a good person but these people - they saw applications for everything in life. The Bible was the handbook for every decision and every action. I am shamed because they probably new more Biblical applications than I do and they could barely get their hands on a Bible or meet to discuss it!

All these people have taught me (among other things) that God's Word is (1) holy, (2) true and defendable, (3) a cause of change, (4) precious, and (5) applicable. It is timeless and in it is the power to change lives. I pray that I never take it for granted and when I do, that I will continually be brought back to this awe and gratefulness. But most of all, that I would know God more fully through His Word, that He would become greater, more holy and more awesome to me with every verse I read.