How important is the Bible, really? Isn’t it merely an ancient book of tall tales and fables and an outdated code of conduct? It is routinely asserted in our culture that the Bible is full of inconsistencies and errors. Certainly enlightened 21st century civilization no longer finds the scriptures to be a relevant source of wisdom or a reliable source of knowledge!
What say you?
Christians for two thousand years have embraced the scriptures as inerrant and essential, affirming that the Bible is the primary way we know God, know what he’s doing, and know what our response should be.
Scripture itself is pretty darn confident about its own importance:
“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8).
Scripture says, “Look at me! I’m perfect, sure, right, and pure!” Scripture also claims to bring you: a restored soul (yes, please), wisdom, a joyful heart, and insight for living. What we most want, deep down, for ourselves, our children, our families—those things are promised to us as by-products of loving God’s word.
It’s easy to treat the Bible like the world treats it: as boring, or irrelevant or repressive. It’s easy to rush through life and forget to pause and enjoy the promises of God. It’s so easy to forget what a rich treasure God’s word is.
But as parents we can’t afford to forget. We have the privilege of modeling a life of rhythms that slow us down long enough to give God time to restore our soul, make us wise, fill our hearts with joy and give us some insight for this crazy life. It’s an honor to teach the next generation about how perfect, sure, right and pure God is, and His word is!
So I challenge you this week to have a conversation with your kids about how amazing the Bible is! Pull them near you and whisper the promises of God to them straight from scripture: He sees you. He loves you. He is for you. If you don’t have a copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible, I highly recommend it for all ages—even moms and dads. It says,
“No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back His lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne—everything—to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!”
The LORD “commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:5-7).
Standing on the promises,
