Crack a Book and Crawl Inside
“Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ”
I came across an article by Jack Preston King titled “I Am Made of Books,” and it brought up a range of thoughts. I skimmed the article, and the author shared books that influenced his thinking. His book selection wouldn’t have been my choice. But I loved his premise about the power of reading, and I loved the article’s image: a man with his computer sitting inside a book. I chose my devotion image to closely reflect Jack Preston King’s, so you would appreciate its inspirational value.
What we read influences all aspects of our lives. Reading teaches, instructs, and influences both our conscious and unconscious minds. Depending on your reading list, you can feel inspired, disappointed, scared, anxious, aroused, or enlightened, to name a few. Reading brings ideas, stories, and situations to life. Characters become real, and nonfiction is embraced.
When we read the Bible, it becomes part of us. We have a ringside seat when Adam and Eve leave the garden. When Abram and Sarai leave the security of their home, we leave with them. When the infant Moses is pulled from the reeds, and later parts the sea, we are witnesses. When Jesus is taken down from the cross, and Paul is knocked off his horse, we are there. Just as meaningful, the Bible’s struggles, truths, laws, parables, and other literary structures become part of our emotional and spiritual marrow. When we read sacred Scripture, we become part of the larger story, and the divine story becomes part of us.
Reading, nationwide and in all age groups, is in decline. Those who become illiterate by choice lose more than just motivation or knowledge. When we fail to read, we lose insight into how to live meaningfully. A novel’s characters teach us from their wisdom, mistakes, and experiences we will not face. Nonfiction instructs and helps us grasp ideas in ways we previously couldn't. The Bible opens our minds and souls to the Holy Spirit’s instruction and inspiration, lifting us to a new way of life. That is worth our time and attention. Crawl into a book and let it transform you. Don’t forget to make the Bible one of your daily readings.
