BBD 09.22.09 The Collectors
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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(A Devotional Classic from 2002)
09.22.09
The Collectors
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4.
Bob Burke an Oklahoma City attorney, historian, and collector has given his
collection of over 2,000 Bibles to the University of Oklahoma (2002). In
this collection of Bibles, there are over 200 languages represented and the
dates of publication range from 1492 to the year 2000. The collection is
thought to be the largest privately owned collection, and it is estimated
that it has a value of several hundred thousand dollars. However, many of
the Bibles are priceless being irreplaceable. Burke related that the Bibles
had just been packed into his office, and that he was relieved "because they
are now in safe hands and they will be used."
The Bible is such a wonderful book it still ranks near the top each year in
numbers of books sold and there have been more Bibles printed than any other
book. According to the Bible, every part is "inspired by God" and "is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)." The Bible is not only "inspired by
God" it is "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews
4:12)."
The Bible is inspired by God, it is living, powerful, and sharper than a
human sword, and it is the "sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)." The Bible
is also our spiritual food, which is needed just as frequently as physical
food which we eat every day (Matthew 4:4). The Bible gives us direction to
the way of life (John 14:6; 1 Peter 1:23) and through the Bible we will find
true success (Joshua 1:8). It is through the Bible that we will find
strength to resist and overcome temptation (Psalm 119:9, 11).
How large is your Bible collection? Within my reach are four Bibles and our
family has a total of 15 or so and possibly more. I enjoy the way some of
the Bibles look on the outside with nice leather covers and some have
brightly colored designs, which are appealing to the eye. I like the feel of
the pages, which are thin, and with gold on the edge. I like the small
pocket Bible that I can carry with me concealed but ready for an emergency,
just in case they ask us to lift our Bibles up in the air at a pastor's
conference.
Does it do me any good to have all of these Bibles if I am just going to
admire them? My Bible collection is only a collection and worthless
spiritually if I never open up their pages and read the words of life
printed on them. Even if we only have one Bible, we have a priceless
possession that many would even today risk their lives to read and are
risking their lives to read. Most of us risk nothing if we were to open up
the pages of one of our Bibles and read the living words of God. Why do we
just collect them? Why do we just admire them? Why don't we read them?
(Jeanie at a meeting today, 9.22.2009, heard of how in China a family in a
house church given a Bible was so thankful for receiving it that they wanted
to have their picture taken with the man giving the Bible to them. This was
even after it was known that someone had called the police to report the
gathering because a man was upset that his wife had been saved.)
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