2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (GNT)

One day as I was puttering around my study at home, I came upon a little cardboard box that had been tossed into a box of books carted from my mother's apartment when she needed nursing home care. Inside the box tied with string, there was an old, old book with an embroidered cover. Eventually, the little box landed on my bookshelves, where it sat for a long, long time.

Every once in a while, I would take the book out of its box and look at it. But then, one day, I really looked at it. It was a miniature Bible dated 1628, and by the looks of it, it actually appeared as though it was printed in 1628.

After taking it to a rare book dealer, it became apparent that the age of the book was likely authentic. Apparently, there were about 450 of them printed in 1628. But today, there are only four known and catalogued in the world.

Whenever I happen to mention this in conversation, the first reaction that I hear is, "I bet it's worth a lot of money." That may be true. But its value to me is in its content.

The title page says (with its actual spelling and phrasing), "The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, newly translated out of the original Greek and with the former translations diligently compared, and revised, by his Majesties special command."

That makes it priceless! — to have God's Word in a language that I can read and understand.

I often wonder how many lives have been touched by the reading of these words of Scripture, and how it came to be in my possession, handed down through the generations for almost 400 years.

I also wonder how many lives have been left without comfort in times of sadness … without peace in times of turmoil … without hope in times of devastation … without direction in times of confusion … all because God's Word has been hidden from view, lying unread, gathering dust in some dark corner.

This little book of Scriptures isn't the first one that I have left on the shelf. The Bible that I received at my confirmation sat untouched for years, although I did try to read it when I was a skeptical, questioning teenager — reasoning that I couldn't reject something that I had never studied. So, I began to read at the beginning, in Genesis, but got bogged down in Leviticus.

Then, life got too busy to continue the quest for truth, until I discovered the truth in the old adage, "A Bible that is falling apart is usually owned by someone who isn't." After that, my confirmation Bible got such a workout that it is now falling apart.

The Bible is history … poetry … prophecy … wisdom … instruction. It is hope and comfort and encouragement. But the Bible is more than all that. It is God's written Word that points to God's living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord. It's all written in a language that we can understand under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Who helps us to know and do God's will.

God's Word in the world can accomplish more than we could ever dream or imagine, if we take the Word of God off the shelf and let it take us out into the world to be good news to all.

Question for reflection: How would you describe your Bible? Like new? Gently used? Falling apart?

Prayer: Loving God, we thank You for Your words of grace and truth to us found in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Grant that we may cherish Your Word and make room for it in our lives. Amen.

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About the author:

Helen Hartai <helenhartai@gmail.com>
Nestleton, Ontario, Canada
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