The moment had finally arrived: centuries of darkness, decades of longing, years of hard work and at last on the distant aeroplane was the most precious thing these desperate people could be given. The large crowd had gathered, many in traditional dress. The leaders formed a line, instruments played, people clapped and shouted and at last everyone cheered as the first box was unpacked and a Bible in this language was held high! God’s Word had arrived!
If you haven’t seen the video, please email the church office and we’ll send you a link to just such a scene in PNG just a few years ago.
Yet some people are bound to ask: why such excitement for an old book that will tell you how to live your life and lay down rules?! Maybe these people didn’t know quite what it was they’re letting themselves in for! But actually they did, because missionaries had spent years both translating and teaching these words. The people’s joy was because they now read them in their own language, are reminded of saving grace through the Lord Jesus and the right way to respond to that saving grace any time they wanted!
Is that how you view the Bible?
Last Sunday morning we saw Moses tell God’s Old Testament to listen and carefully keep God’s Word because…
“6…this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
”7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” (Deut 4:6,7)
We are privileged to have even better access through the Lord Jesus!
Spencer Shaw