Holding Out God's Word

Read: 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:3

On Thursday October 3 2019, all over the country, students will have the opportunity to participate in the bring your Bible to school event. It is a day to unashamedly tell others about the Lord and speak about His love and truth, as revealed in His Word. May this day be special because young people are emboldened to speak truth with love, resulting in lives that are changed for eternity, Colossians 1:13-14. How thankful we are that we live in a country where we have the precious freedom to speak about and display the Bible without fear.

As I thought about this up-coming event, I was reminded that as believers, no matter our ages, we always take our Bibles wherever we go. No, not the ones that are leather bound or the ones the Gideons so faithfully give out. Not the ones that we can access from our phones or iPads. I'm thinking of the unbelievable privilege we have because of the fact that we belong to Jesus, Who is the Living Word of God, John 1:1-4; John 1:14. Before He died and rose in triumph, The Savior told His disciples that He wouldn't leave them as orphans. He let them know that when He returned to heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit to indwell them, John 14:16-18.

Isn't that amazing to ponder? The One Who moved upon the human authors of the scriptures, giving them the truths that we hold so preciously in our hearts, 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, has made His home within us, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Therefore, practically speaking, as the Holy Spirit strengthens, teaches us and enables us, our lives begin to demonstrate the truths of the Bible that we hold in our hands. No wonder the apostle Paul says that we are like letters that picture what God is like, 2 Corinthians 3:3. Because we truly take the Living Word everywhere we go, we have the opportunity to show the world every day, a bit of how the Savior looks.

Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints spoke the truth in love this week. He had encouraged students to participate in the bring your Bible to school event. He even shared a favorite verse, 2 Corinthians 5:7. When he was criticized for making this stand, the quarterback simply said that his aim is to live by the commands that Jesus said were the most important. When the religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus, He said that we are to love God with all of our being and love our neighbor as ourselves, Matthew 22:34-40. Drew Brees didn't argue or become entangled in a war of words. Instead, He highlighted a bit of how His Savior looks.

Lord, we are thankful for organized times when we can say how proud of You we are. Help us to demonstrate that fact in big or small ways each day.