One Book

SMALL PAPER EYES are probably still stuck on the walls of the home we rented in Manila—and on the back of a door, inside a cabinet, and under a bed. My goal was to cement a “Bible verse visual” in the minds of our five young children as they stuck the handmade eyes in every conceivable spot in our house. First we talked about 2 Chronicles 16:9: “The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” The children’s assignment was to cut out and color pairs of eyes and tape them wherever they thought God’s eyes could see. For the remainder of our time in that home, we had fun spotting little paper eyes in unusual places.

The eye illustration instructed our children that God sees us wherever we are, even far from our home in America. And as He sees us, He doesn’t just support us half-heartedly; He strongly supports us when our hearts are completely His. Even the little ones concluded that we really needed God’s support.

As parents, our primary goal with children at home was to prepare them for life. Bob and I knew that Scripture was our best resource for equipping our children for whatever God was calling them to. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” There’s an obvious link between God’s Word and the good works He planned for us.

From Deuteronomy 6:7, we learned that our priority was to diligently teach the Bible to our kids at all times. Moses told the Israelites, “You shall teach [these words] diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” I prayed for grace and creativity to carry out my all-consuming assignment; and I’m forever grateful that in the process of weaving God’s Word into the minds of my children, God also wove it into mine.

Reading the Bible daily is the best habit we could develop, but sticking Scripture in our brains, like our kids stuck those paper eyes on walls, makes it easily accessible and ready to apply. We can’t anticipate our daily challenges, but the Holy Spirit of God knows exactly how to prepare us with His “inspired” Word. My theologian husband explained to the kids that inspired in the original Greek means “God-breathed.” Our kids were rewarded, or bribed, with “Daddy’s Dollars” for verses they recited every week, but the worth of Scripture in their minds, equipping them for good works, continues to be invaluable. As the psalmist writes, God’s Word is better than “thousands of gold and silver pieces” (Psalm 119:72).

When Dr. W. A. Criswell spoke at my husband’s seminary graduation, he told the story of a famous atheist who received Christ as his Savior on his deathbed. Just before he died, the man asked his servant to bring him “the Book” from his library.

“But sir,” his servant replied, “you have hundreds of books.”

The man responded, “There is just ‘one Book’!”

What priority do you give to the “one Book”? There are days when it sits on my nightstand unopened. Yet even when I’m running late, just a few minutes of reading, or focusing on a verse or two, impacts my day. I’m desperate for encouragement, instruction, and truth. My life, like yours, is complicated and challenging. God’s Word is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), able to change a mindset, point us in a new direction, reveal a sin, flood a heart with hope, and so much more. Why are we tempted to do everything else first and leave our Bibles closed? Because we have an enemy who hates the “one Book” and the God who inspired it. Ignore his efforts. Turn to Scripture and prepare for the good works God has for you this day.

REFLECTION

What is your attitude toward the Bible? How can you remind yourself that it contains the faith-building words you need to get through your life with the right focus? Commit to reading from Scripture each day. Then, as you read, select a verse or two to tape on the wall of your mind.