The Bible shows us the solitary solution to the moral catastrophe in the world today. We see the solution to facing the devil. It lies in how we hold the Word of God in our hands. This is the same Word our parents went by. What’s so different about this one than theirs? It is how we look at the Bible we hold in our hands. There is little use of it for moral ethics and sin. It has changed the way some view the word of God. Getting and maintaining the same view our parents had would make it a better world to live in. It’s time to get back to the Bible that is in our hands. It’s time to get back to the way that sees the Bible for what it is. It will speak to us, sometimes more than we want it to.
“Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.”
How do we view our Bible? Remember the family Bible our parents had. There are hand written notes in it, maybe some drawings. In those days the family Bible was used; it did not just sit on the coffee table. It was read to us. When my mother closed the Bible she lived what it said. Dad was not saved, but he respected the Bible and Christians. He never hindered us from serving the Lord. He did get saved, but even before that, he knew and kept alliance with the Bible mommy read.
There are more Bibles than ever. It’s the number one best seller, yet it is the most argued book and has become the most corrupted that ever was. There are a million interpretations, but we need our parents Bible. In verse 20 Solomon said it is the “father’s commandment.” He knew what the forefathers believed and lived. A commandment is a command to be carried out. The word of God used to be a command, not debated. It was viewed by parents as the authority for right and wrong. We have the same word today, and there is an all-out war to destroy it. The devil doesn’t care if you have a Bible so long as you don’t read it and do what it says. No matter how informed we are, we are not smarter than God. The God of our parents is the same God today. It’s the same command. If we believe, live and follow it, life will work.
It is the father’s command. It is the mother’s law. It was read as more than a story book. It was read to help us. Mommy read it with as much dedication as she gave any other task. She lived by it. She used it to mold and frame our lives. For a civilization to work there must be laws. We see the breakdown of laws today. We respected mother’s law. If we stole something we didn’t get by with it. Today parents get mad if someone tries to do something about it. We have no business using the word of God to our own fancy. Don’t say God didn’t really mean it and start living by your own laws. When there is a breakdown of God’s law you are guilty until repentance. Use it the same way our parents used it.
Verse 20 says to keep it. Don’t forsake it. Don’t run away from it. Before you listen to others on the right and wrong of anything, listen to God. Don’t let it go in one ear and out the other. Put it in your heart. Make it more than just a habit. We have no business holding our Bibles today if we don’t hold them on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you do, then you’re being a hypocrite. How tight are you holding your Bible?
Verse 21 says to use it like a noose around our neck. Put it on. Tie it around your heart. It’s like the necklace a ladies wear. It’s to be seen. Tie the word of God around the heart so others can see it. Don’t be ashamed of it. Don’t lower your standards. Remember they are not your standards; they are God’s. How well do we wear our Christianity?
Verse 22 says the word will guide and lead. Even when we sleep, in our hours of not being in control, God is. He’s able to protect us when things seem out of control. We’re not out of touch. If it is sickness or affliction God’s word will keep us. It will speak to us.
We all need a good talking to. God won’t tell us anything apart from his word. If other thoughts are in your head, and they are contrary to the Bible, then that voice and thought is of the devil. Listen to the Bible. It is trying to speak to us. God will have his way. Don’t talk back to the Bible like we did our parents. It’s time to wake up and read it. It’s time to follow it. If there is any hope, it is in the Bible. Verse 23 says it’s a lamp and a light. We may have a hard row to hoe, but the way to make it work is in the Bible. It puts a clear path for us to follow. Pick it up and hold it.
What have you been doing with your Bible? What are you going to do with it? Pick it up everyday and open it as our parents did. Our mom and dad’s Bible is ours if we trust it as they did. What you do with your Bible will decide how you life ends. Always let mom and dad’s Bible be your Bible.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 