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In many nations, Bibles are still hard to obtain. Yet, many foreign governments are friendly enough to the study of the Bible that it is allowed into the public schools. Ironically, in our nation—the land of the free—this is not a liberty we are allowed to enjoy. The Word of God should be the most respected book in the United States. We want and pray that it will be the case one day. It does make us wonder what can we do to help God’s Word be the most respected book in America.
We need to respect God’s Word in our own lives. No one is going to make this nation great from the top. It is going to take people like you and me living and breathing God’s Word with respect in our individual lives.
We need to respect God’s Word for what it is. The nature of God’s Word is repeatedly proved by those who live it out in their lives (Proverbs 3:5). If we want to live in purity then we will flood our mind with God’s Word.
We need to respect God’s Word for what it does. God’s Word is the only way we can know what God expects in our lives. We all want to live righteous lives and God’s Word helps us understand what He expects of us. Proverbs 30:5 depicts unto us that the Word of God is a “shield unto them that put their trust in him.” We must be willing to trust in the Almighty God.
We need to respect God’s Word for whose it is (Proverbs 30:6). Simply put the Word of God belongs to God! It is not ours to change. It is not ours to destroy. It is not ours to develop into something different. God’s Words are simply His!
These four things can change our world if we are willing to make the changes first. God’s Word is the most important possession.
Jonathan Burns
Findlay church of Christ
Sparta, TN