“If I were the devil,” wrote J.I. Packer, “One of my first aims would be to stop folk from digging into the Bible … I should do all I could to surround it with the spirited equivalents of pits, thorns, hedges and man traps to frighten people off.” But praise the Lord, Satan cannot keep us from studying our Bibles.
The Bible gives us this wonderful promise from Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man (or woman) whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law He meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
The following quote from Robert Chapman is a blessing.
“This book (the Bible) contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. He tells us paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, test the heart and guide the feet.
“Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, it will be open in judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.”
Take time each day and read your Bible. This wonderful book of God. It will bless you.
Dr. David Bouler of Global Faith Ministries, Chattanooga, Tennessee, contributed this column to the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at debouler@aol.com.
