Please, Pick Up A Bible

Would you please note the date on this – January 25, 1941. My Beloved Husband was just less than two weeks old and my Mom had just discovered she was pregnant with me. Eleven months before Pearl Harbor was bombed our President was concerned about the servicemen “attaining the highest inspirations of the human soul.”

He mentions “the centuries” when “men of many faith and diverse origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration.”

Our culture has changed. As has that of many other nations. Soon, China will contain more professed Christians than the United States, though their nation’s culture continues to frown on formation of churches.  It does not take a church building for people to want, read, love and share the scriptures. Why?

I love what Paul wrote to Timothy, knowing his mother and grandmother shared scripture with him:

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15 KJV)

Paul is not  talking about the New Testament used in Christian worship – he was in the very process of writing that. He was writing Timothy about the Jewish scriptures that told of a Messiah. Those very scriptures would lead to salvation through faith. Paul knew there would be unbelievers, as he had been:

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13 KJV)

His eyes were closed until he was blinded on the road to Emmaus. Do you believe what he wrote?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

That covers a lot of territory, doesn’t it.  The doctrine – the set of beliefs – are in the scriptures. They can be used to reprove, correct and instruct – if they are used. If they are in a book that only picks up dust or actually gets dusted on a shelf but not read, there is no value.

For my readers, I ask – no, I challenge – you to pick up a Bible, look up the scriptures I include. What do they mean to you, personally? If you have a study Bible, are the comments in line with what I write? If not, why not?

Scriptures are also for reproof, which is to rebuke or censure – which should be designed to bring about correction, or the ability to accept instruction.

So, why would we be doing all of what’s written in these verses? That’s here, too:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17 KJV)

Yep – when we acknowledge God, we’ll want to do good. We’ll recognize our sinfulness and be grateful that God has put it all away from us and we’ll not want to bring it up and look at our error again. We will do our best follow His instructions. I believe FDR knew this when he wrote his letter to those in service to our country.

Please, pick up a Bible and see for yourself.