Listen, do you want to hear God?

Conversations with James

'Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.' Psalm 119:105

The Hebrew word for the Bible is “Miqra”. This is rooted to the verb “qara” which means “to call”. The Bible is not just a repository of spiritual information, not just a book to carry around, but a voice to listen to. We should read the Bible in the anticipation of listening to the voice of God which we should obey and so live our lives.

At no time am I more aware of the dynamics of listening and obeying than in watching my grandson, James, grow up. James is now 15 years old but years ago I enjoyed watching James at play or at the table for breakfast. I observed the interplay between the child and his mother. Mother gives, sometimes shouts, instructions. James hears, listens, and obeys. Most times, James responded to his mother’s call in faith. He understood that his mum meant well for him and he saw no reason not to respond positively to her instructions.

James, Eleanor, Luke

The same is true for Eleanor, now 12 and Luke, now 7 years old.  

But even as young as 1 year old, these children have a mind of their own. So, there were times when the children would exert their wills taking on personal responses which might not always bring them in alignment with their Mum. 

The grandchildren are also exposed to the extended family. They are listening to the voices of their father, grandparents and beyond us to other adult voices especially in church. Our voices are shaping them, molding their character and developing consciences; these are the healthy dynamics of growing up children.

The same dynamics work in the hearing of God's voice, through the the Bible; Miqra, a voice to listen to. Each day, like a mother guides her children, the word of God 'speaks' to us.

'How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your word. I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you' Psalm 119:9,11 (NLT)

The Bishop Robert Solomon in his book 'The Conscience' stated “The conscience is like a divine spark in human beings, but it has been dulled and neglected and require the Logos (Word) in the revelation of the Scriptures and Christ to be revived and renewed.” Coming from Christian roots, we hope by example and gentle persuasion to help the grandchildren define, a godly conscience with good attitudes and virtues. From the earliest ages, they have been taught to read the Bible. The psalmist said, 

'Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey Your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions.' Psalm 119:17-18 (NLT)

'Teach me Your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey Your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of Your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.' Psalm 119:33-35 (NLT)

'Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart's delight. I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.' Psalm 119:111-112 

These 'conversations with God's Word,' allow Christians 

'to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have received.' Ephesians 4:1 

The word, “worthy” is translated from the Greek word, 'axios.' This word 'axios' pictures a balancing scale. The items which Paul asked to be in balance, are God’s calling and personal direction. This will be expected of our grandchildren as of all of us too, to keep our walk and God’s call in equilibrium.

Indeed 'God's word is a lamp unto our feet.' 

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

When I feel afraid

Think I've lost my way

Still you're there right beside me

And nothing will I fear

As long as you are near

Please be near me to the end

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

I will not forget

Your love for me and yet

My heart forever is wandering

Jesus be my guide

And hold me to your side

I will love you to the end

Nothing will I fear as long as you are near

Please be near me to the end

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

And a light unto my path

You're the light unto my path

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 11 April 2010

Ref:  Solomon, Robert M, The Conscience - Rediscovering the Inner Compass Singapore Genesis Books 2010

The Enduring Word

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.' Isaiah 40:8

Bishop Robert Solomon entitled his book on the authority and reliability of the Bible, 'The Enduring Word.(Ref 1). No doubt the Bishop had in mind the passage from Isaiah Chapter 40 which compares the enduring impact of the God's Word to the fleeting influences of humanity.

The Bible is God's 'Enduring Word' in that it has moved in the hearts of people since the beginning of time and its inspiration has transformed us and people throughout history. The late, Dr Bobby Sng, former President of the Singapore Bible Society wrote in the foreword of Bishop Solomon's book, 'For the Christian, no book is more important than the Bible. It stands at the very heart of our faith. All of what we believe in and all of how we live stems from the teachings of this book.'

Today it is an international best seller, in print and in digital form. Credit for this should go to the Bible Society which was founded more than 200 years ago. Their endearing work is summed up in this statement, 'We take the Bible and find ways to translate and distribute it, create digital formats, advocate for its place in society and help people relate to and make sense of it in their everyday lives.' (Ref 2)

In 1800. a Welsh girl, Mary Jones, trekked 26 miles to buy a bible that was translated in her own language. That feat drew the inspiration of many clergymen including William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect. On 7 Mar 1804 at a meeting in a London tavern at Bishopsgate, these gentlemen formed the British and Foreign Bible Society with the aim of making the Bible affordable to the people of the world in their own language. 

The Singapore Bible Society was started in 1837 as the Singapore Auxiliary Bible Society. Rev (Dr) Robert Morrison* who was instrumental in translating the Bible into Chinese became a founder member of the Singapore Bible Society. Thus, Singapore had a considerable influence in the distribution of the Bible to the Malay archipelago and to China. View the video the Bible Movement Story which outlines the often unknown role that the Singapore's Bible Society has in the distribution of the Bible in East Asia.

The Bible is now especially popular in digital form. Recently, YouVersion, an online Bible App celebrated 500 million installations on various devices all over the world. This Bible App is offered free and has 2,619 Bible versions in 1,757 languages.

Celebrating the widespread distribution of the Bible is one thing, but does the Bible a have personal and spiritual impact on our lives? In the Bible, God reveals Himself and His plans to save and restore humanity. Every section of Scripture has the power to counsel, convict and change us.

'For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul, spirit, joints and marrow; It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.' Hebrew 4:12

The YouVersion Mission is impressive and worth noting, 'To encourage and challenge people to seek intimacy with God every day.' Using an easily accessible online Bible, YouVersion hopes to engender 'biblically centred Bible, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout the day. (Ref 3)

Now that the Bible is so readily available, how much will we value it? A familiar hymn Wonderful Words of Life put this across very simply,

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,

Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;

Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all wonderful words of life;

Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;

All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.

Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life;

Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;

Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever.

Yes, God intended His word to have an impact on our lives,

'As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that flows out from My mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.' Isaiah 55:10-11

"Is not my word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like hammer that breaks a rock in pieces." Jeremiah 23:29

'All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.' 2 Timothy 3:16-17

In his concluding remarks in the book, The Enduring Word, Bishop Solomon wrote, 'God has indeed brought His word close to us and invites us to make it very much a part of us (touching our mouth and heart) - so that when we read it, we can hear the Master's wonderful voice and feel the Spirit's life-giving breath.'

Lionel

Ref 1: Robert M Solomon. The Enduring Word - the Authority and Reliability of the Bible. Genesis Books and the Bible Society of Singapore. 2011.

Ref 2: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/about-us/

Ref 3: https://youversion.com/mission/

* Rev (Dr) Robert Morrison was also a Principal of Raffles Institution. Morrison House was named after him.