A well worn Truth. Dearly loved and cherished. A gift given to me by my Bible study gals almost four years ago.
I wanted a new Bible. A study Bible that offered notes, cross references, and a concordance to aid my desire for a deeper exploration of God’s Word. At the conclusion of our first study together entitled Jesus, the One and Only, the girls honored my leadership by gifting me with a generous donation to be used at my discretion. “Mad money” they called it. “Jesus money” I called it. As quickly as it entered my hands, it exited, providing myself and my sons with new Bibles for Christmas.
It was difficult to surrender my old Bible—my companion for nearly twenty-five years. No study notes. No cross references. No concordance. Simply a Bible given to me by my parents on my fourteenth birthday. A Bible with a cover that remains secure. With a binding and pages that still firmly attach. With little underlining and even less highlighting. A Bible that continues to glitter from its frame of gold. A Bible that, on most occasions, stayed on the shelf while I pursued life.
Two Bibles. Two seasons of living. Two hearts for the handling of its Truth. And therein lies the contrast.
Perhaps the publishers manufactured a sturdier Bible back in 1980. My new Bible is bigger and contains more pages than the older version. Maybe this is the reason for its quicker demise. But I have this lingering thought that, possibly, I am the reason for its premature aging.
My heart is not the same as it was in 1980. My passion for the study of scripture was non-existent back then. That all changed five years ago. I had a head on collision with God’s Word through a community Bible study. Like John Wesley, I felt my heart “strangely warmed” for the things of God. I have spent the last five years stoking that fire and feeling the effects of God’s flames as they reach deep within to purify and to refine.
The more I study my Bible, the more I feel its heat. And somewhere within the blaze, I hear the whisper of my Refiner say…
As it should be, my child. As it should be. My Word is a well worn Truth and should…
Be handled. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:19).
Be used. “When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.’” (Deuteronomy 32:45-47).
Be consulted. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).
Be loosed and unbounded. “‘As the rain and 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 goes 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).
Be the Name above all names. “‘He must become greater; I must become less.’” (John 3:30).
Be highlighted. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
Be faded around the edges. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Be carried. “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…’”. (Matthew 28:19).
God means for our Bibles to be a mess. For them to fall apart so that the Truth within spills forth. On us. In us. All around us. A kindling blaze that burns with the intensity of its Author, whose whisper rises above the ashes to herald…
As it should be, my child. As it should be.
I am at a loss as how to best provide my Bible with the TLC that it needs to carry me through another season of living. I am not ready for its surrender. But I am ready for the well worn Truth of its pages to be released upon the soil of my current. To bring light and flame to those who have been content to pursue life without Truth. To widely scatter my holy “mess”—handled and used, highlighted and loosed—so that others might have a head on collision with the One and only God and the magnificent treasure of his Word. And so I pray…
Keep your Word, Lord, alive and active in my heart through the pages of my well-worn Bible. Keep me to my studying, to my memorizing and to my living out the Truth of your precepts. Burn your words deeply into my heart, and refine me with the fire of your Calvary’s love. And when my Bible can no longer bear the marks of my pursuit, give me the grace to let it go. Until then, I am well- pleased to carry it close to my heart…a well-worn Truth. Truth…
How well I relate. When God’s word gets a grip on the heart, it satisfies like nothing else ever has or ever could! I can’t help but think how wonderful it is that our Bibles fall apart so we don’t have to.
Be blessed,
Kathleen
Elaine…..I absolutely loved your post and can so identify with it! My Bible is the same way. I just recently bought an inexpensive Large Print (does that tell on me?? ha) Bible to used in my work at the Sav-A-Life Pregnancy center but am now thinking that was a mistake…..I can’t put my finger on the scripture I want at a minute’s notice like I can in my worn, torn, and marked Bible. I, too, am dreading the day when I may have to make a permanent change to a new Bible.
Also…I love what Sassy Granny said: “Our Bibles fall apart so we don’t have to.”
God bless you…..
Marilyn
I can relate Elaine!
I hae a Life Application Bible that I LOVE and it is no longer in the binding and the back is completely missing.
I did get a new bible that is lovely but when I am doing a study I tend to go back to my faithful study bible.
A lady at church told me just this past Sunday night at bible study that I need a new bible cause mine is such a mess. I told her that I have one but I hnave to use this one for my studies!
BTW- are you doing Jesus the one and only?
That is an AWESOME study!
I did it the year the passion of the christ came out and happended to be on Holy Week during Holy Week and we saw that movie. Man, that was an incredible expirience!
In HIM –
Mindy
A well worn Bible reflects a life lived for and with the Author. Again Elaine, your words take me to The Word. Thank you for encouraging my heart to keep pursuing Him and digging deep to unearth the treasures that only true seekers find.
Blessings,
Joy
Oh Elaine…
Yet another post that touches my heart. My Bible is a mess too. The leather cover blemished and cracked, the tabbed book titles faded from repeated use, scribbled notes, highlighted passages, underlined passages… all evidence of my walk w/ the Lord – loving His Word!
I am at a crossroads… because I have heard that there is a time to get a new Bible. My current Bible was a gift to me from my Mother in Law and Father in Law – on the day I joined Calvary – just a few short months before my marriage to Jim. I was leaving my old church that I dearly loved, and entering a new chapter in my faith walk. That Bible has the tracks of my tears, joy, longing, love… is it time? Your post is a word spoken directly from our Father – He will tell me when it’s time – I almost feel like if I get a new Bible I will be cutting off a limb. Ah pruning, it does prove fruitful. I will listen to His voice – He will tell me… It’s time my child!
I love it! Every time I open my current Bible, bits of the shedding leather cover spill all over the place. It is causing me all kinds of agony to imagine that I will have to replace this cherished friend with a spiffier version.
And, I have the beautiful and untouched Bible that was mine in high school. How funny!
Great use of the verses by the way!
I met you over at Hadassah’s blog where you posted about your son. I appreciate your story. My youngest was born in the bluegrass state not far from the horse farms – what a grand and glorious state and know we too ar in NC. I also love my old Bible.
There is nothing more beautiful than a well-worn Bible. It says so much about the child of God! May you wear your next Bible out in your walk with God the coming season.
Thank you for sharing!
In Him,
Nancy
Have I told you how much I love your blog? I have been to visit a couple of times but I can’t remember if I ever left a comment. Anyway, I love your blog! It is beautiful (as are you) and oh, so well written!
I have a bit of a bible fettish. I have bibles in just about every room of my home, in every translation, in my car….a regular bible collection. But it wasn’t that long ago I didn’t own any bible. I didn’t grow up in the church so I had no idea what kind of bible to get. A friend took me shopping and I bought my first study bible. It is pretty worn out now but I LOVE having a worn out bible. Like you, it reminds me I have been in it!
Sorry to leave such a long comment. I can’t wait to come and visit again soon!
Kelley
wifeforthejourney
I thought I was posting my latest comment on “a well worn truth” until I realized (too late) that I put it on “My Ephesians 5:25.”
Oops! Even in cyberspace I don’t like to stop and ask for directions!
You’ll have to go to the posted comments on “My Ephesians 5:25” to find my latest. Love,
cluelessmanonthejourney
I was re-reading this post about the Bible this morning and happened to remember a poem that I have copied down on the fly leaf of my Bible. I heard a preacher quote it in a sermon and afterwards ask him if I could have the words. That was almost 10 years ago as I have the date of July 1998 by the poem. I later found out the author’s name but for some reason never wrote it in my Bible. It goes along so very well with what you have written.
The Precious Bible
Though the cover is worn and the pages are torn
Though places bear traces of tears
Yet more precious than gold is this book worn and old
That can shatter and scatter my fears
When I prayerfully look in this precious old book
Many pleasures and treasures I see
Many tokens of love from my father above
Who is nearest and dearest to me
This book’s been my guide tis a friend by my side
It will lighten and brighten my way
And each promise I find soothes and gladdens my mind
As I read it and heed each day
God bless you…
Marilyn