Daily Devotional – Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Matthew 5:15 (NKJV)
Thanks to technology, many Christians prefer to use digital Bibles as opposed to carrying the good book physically. How does that affect our role as light-bearers? What is the connection between displaying the Bible and shining the light of the world?
Punished for Carrying Holy Scripture
Let us put the matter in context. Carrying the Bible was not always a fashionable thing. For example, in 1234, King James I of Aragon issued a decree, in concert with the Spanish bishops, outlawing ownership of any Bible translation.
Only priests had the right to possess and interpret the Bible. Among some communities in Europe, Bible translation were concealed in loaves of bread when being shared. Ordinary people who dared handle the Bible risked persecution and death.
Bearing the Light by Carrying the Bible
Thanks to the Reformation and the advent of the printing press, the Bible later became available to the common person. By the year 2022, the Bible was available in 2846 languages. Today, no one needs to conceal the Bible.
An interesting fact about possessing scripture is that it is tantamount to preaching the gospel. Whenever we carry our Bibles, people know or assume we are practicing Christians. In a way, as long as we carry the Bible, we dare not shame Jesus.
You are the Light of the World
Consider the words of Jesus: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15).
Literally, displaying the Bible is lighting a lamp and putting it on a stand. It is announcing to the world that you are a light-bearer. Conversely, if we deliberately refuse to carry physical Bibles for fear of people knowing we are Christians, are we not hiding the light under a bowl?
Bearing the Bible with Confidence
It may not be the stylish thing to do but carrying and displaying the physical Bible in public speaks volumes about who we are to those we interact with every day. There is power in having the Bible in our homes, offices, cars and other open places.
Bearing the Bible reminds us constantly that we are God’s representatives on earth. It makes those we interact with hold us accountable to the faith we process. As people see God transforming power in us and the role scripture plays, they are likely to follow Jesus, too.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, because I am not ashamed of the Gospel, I will not be ashamed to carry and display the Bible wherever I live or work.
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Amen..
Hallelujah, Philip
Let’s carry our Bibles to the church and not the Bible in the phone.
True, Pastor
Amen
Hallelujah,Brian
Amen…this reminds us of the divine obligation we have,As christians when we have received the light of the gospel we are not to conceal it; rather we are to let it shine through us for others to see.
For the world observe Christians! we are the light of the world.”
This reminds me of a Nursery Rhyme, “This little light of Mine, I’m gonna let it shine all through till the dawn of the day”
Let your lamp shine!.
We should not be ashamed of the Gospel.
There’s a time I lost direction while going to church, In the town were many people, dressed neatly as well, among the pedestrians I spotted a man carrying a bible, I knew he was heading to church,I just followed at a close distance and eventually I found the church. I learnt the significance of carrying the bible.
Wow!