Are You Abusing Your Bible?

Do You Abuse Your Bible?
A devotion By Jeff Beman

2 Timothy 3:15-17
 
 “15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

I was raised “old school”. We had a big family bible and I was taught that a Holy Bible was not to ever be marked on, or written in, other than the records of marriage and birthdays in the front. Pages were never to be dog-eared, and nothing was ever allowed to be placed on top of it. For that matter, kids were never to even touch the pages! In my family, I don’t remember that bible ever being read, except at Christmastime before dinner.

As an adult, it took me many, many years to stop revering the book itself, and be able to start revering the scripture it imparts. The underlining and highlighting and notes I have written in the margins would have been considered blasphemy by my grandmother back then. But I have come to believe keeping the Holy Bible away from the kids, away from daily use, and away from written explanations and ideas and references actually is more like sin than reverence.

How were you raised? How are you raising your kids? How is the word of God used in your family?

Prayer: Thank you, God that your word is so available in our world today. I am so grateful that I was able to change my views on how to respect the Bible. May we take your words to heart and teach our children and ourselves as we grow in faith. Forgive us for placing your holy scriptures on the top shelf to keep them safe, in good condition, and largely unread. And thank you God for those in our lives that lead us to a clearer understanding of you as we grow. AMEN