My first flippin’ Bible.

This isn’t actually what Hannah’s first Bible is called but it would’ve been great if it was.

It was my little H’s dedication last Sunday and so my family came up for the service. It was great to see everyone and spend the day surrounded by family [on both sides]. Helen – Hannah’s favourite aunt who’s name begins with the letter H :o) – gave her a Bible; it was a picture Bible with flaps to lift. Within minutes I was transfixed by it – so many Bible stories with things to discover under bushes or behind doors or windows or in trees, behind clouds etc. It was great! When Paul said that all Scripture was inspired I defiantly think he had this ‘translation’ in mind too! :o)

Anyway as I became increasingly engrossed by my daughters new Bible, discovering all sorts of things behind various hidden flaps, I began to appreciate what a good tool this was. The Bible is not simply a ‘page turner’, this is an accolade that should be reserved for novels by such ‘great’ authors as Jeffery Archer or Dan Brown ;o) If you keep turning pages you will never delve any deeper into the Bible; you will only begin to grow when you when you begin to dwell on God’s word.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Col 3:16 NIV)
Or in other words, “Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!” (MSG)

I remember that once being told that the Bible was unique among books since it seemed to read you as much as you read it. I guess that is why one translation is called the ‘Living Bible’.

Take some time today and dive in; don’t just paddle, submerge yourself in it! Allow God to speak into your life through the words you read. All of the stuff you read on this blog and in the devotional books we publish are not written by ‘enlightened theologians’; the words come from people no more or less strange than you. They are just people who have lifted a flap in their Bible and discovered something that God has left there for them.

It’s your [flippin’] Bible so read it, explore it, bath in it, dwell on it, enjoy it.

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” (1 Tim 3:16-17 MSG)

- Andrew Carey