We have heard over Christmas the phrase that the unspeakable gift from God is our Lord Jesus Christ. But next to the gift of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the third greatest gift. Sir Walter Scott, himself the author of many books and possessor of a great library, said, “There is but one book, the Bible.” The Bible is the oldest book in existence. It required sixteen centuries to write it.

I would like to share an article which I have read recently about the Bible.

SEVEN CROWNING WONDERS OF THE BIBLE
1. The wonder of its formation; one book written in one place in one language, another book written in another country centuries later in another language.
2. The wonder of its unification; it is a library of 66 books, yet only one book, for it has but one author, the Holy Spirit. There are no contradictions.
3. The wonder of its age; it is the most ancient of all books.
4. The wonder of its sale; it is the best seller of all time.
5. The wonder of its interest; it is the only book that is read by all classes and ages of mankind. It is read by sages and children and it is read by all nations.
6. The wonder of its language; it was written largely by uneducated men, yet it is considered a literary masterpiece.
7. The wonder of its preservation; it has been the most hated of all books. Time and again, kings and governments have sought to burn and abolish it. Yet God has preserved it for us today and it can be found in almost every home.

SEVEN SYMBOLS USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE WORD OF GOD
1. A Sword - The Bible is a pointed Word that convicts the hearer. Heb 4:12a, “For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit...”
2. A Hammer - The Bible is powerful and breaks the resistance of the hearer. Jer 23:29, “Is not my word… saith the Lord… like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
3. A Seed - The Bible is a living Word regenerating the hearer. 1 Pet 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
4. A Mirror - The Bible is a faithful Word, revealing the individual to himself. James 1:23-25 likens the Bible to a mirror, in which the sinner looks and sees a true reflection of himself as portrayed by the Lord Himself.
5. A Fire - The Bible is a burning Word, consuming the dross in the hearer. Jer 23:29a, “Is not my Word like as a fire? saith the Lord...” Jer 20:9b says, “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones...”
6. A Lamp - The Bible is an illuminating Word guiding the believer day by day. Ps 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
7. Food - The Bible is nourishing food, feeding the soul (providing meat and drink). 1 Pet 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” 1 Cor 3:2a, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat.”

SEVEN REASONS FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD
1. Conviction of sin comes through the preaching of the Word of God, Acts 2:14-37. In Peter’s Pentecost sermon, nine verses out of 23 are quotations from the Old Testament.
2. Faith comes by the hearing the Word of God. Rom 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
3. Cleansing comes from the Word of God. 2 Cor 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (The promises are the Words of God).
4. Assurance comes from the Word of God. 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life...”
5. Comfort comes from the Word of God. 1 Thess 4:18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (These words are the words recorded in the Bible).
6. Truth comes from the Word of God. Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessolonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so.”
7. The New Birth comes from the Word of God. 1 Pet 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

SEVEN REASON WHY SOME DO NOT READ THE WORD OF GOD
1. Ignorant of its truth - ignorant of its formation and the information available.
2. Already eaten - Feeding on ashes (Is 44:20); feeding on politics, comics, movies, TV, computer games and Internet.
3. Sickness - a sin sick soul has no appetite for the Word of God.
4. Snacking between meals - living in the light, frivolous non-essentials of life.
5. The Bibles lacks flavour for some - business, sports, education have taken prime interest.
6. The Bible is too sweet (Rev 10:8-10). The Book was sweet as honey in the mouth. Some think the Bible is only for the sick, aged and the dying, and that it is too sweet and sentimental for practical, healthy people.
7. The Bible is too bitter (Rev 10:8-10). As soon as he had eaten the Book, it became bitter in his belly. The truths of judgement, hell and sin are too bitter and some are afraid to read the Bible.

SEVEN POINTS TO REMEMBER IN READING THE BIBLE
1. Read it lovingly - The Bible is the Word of my Saviour to me (Ps 119:11).
2. Read it reverently - The Bible is the Word of God, the Almighty Saviour and Judge.
3. Read it prayerfully - The Bible is God’s message to me, to my own heart and life.
4. Read it meditatively - Be like Issac of old and meditate in the Word of God.
5. Read it systematically - Read right though the Bible, not just selected portions.
6. Read it resolutely - I will obey that which my Father in Heaven teaches me from His Book.
7. Read it daily - not just on Sundays, but every day of your life, read a portion.

CONCLUSION
Let us make the Bible our constant guide in all the decisions of our lives and also a companion in life. The Bible does not contain the Word if God, it IS the Word of God. Let us breathe a prayer for the Holy Spirit to help us understand the sacred pages. Let us remember that the Word of God, if neglected, will be our Judge at the last day (John 12:28). Let us always ask God to teach us to treasure the Bible highly; to defend it when necessary and make us bold to proclaim the whole counsel of God.

Dn N.J. Gong

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