Matthew 4:4 (ESV)
But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that comes from the mouth of God.’”
We have access to God’s wonderful Word pretty much whenever
we want, in inexpensive printed editions as well as online on demand. We have
not only one English translation but many. We have study Bibles, concordances,
atlases, commentaries, and encyclopedias virtually and in print. From the
casual attitude so many of us show toward Bible reading and Bible study, you
wouldn’t conclude that we deeply respected the terrible sacrifices people made
to bring us the Word.
William Tyndale dared to translate the Bible into English
in the 1520s. For this he was denounced as a heretic by the bishops and his
books were burned. He was betrayed and seized in Antwerp, strangled, and burned
at the stake in 1536. The very best way to honor this martyr and all who
suffered to bring the Bible to their people is to read it and know it as our
dearest earthly treasure. Jesus used its power to fight off the devil’s
temptation: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every
word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).
Be a Bible reader not just to compete better at historical
trivia or to do a piece of unpleasant work as a good and meritorious deed. The
Bible is your lifeline to Jesus Christ. Satan will do everything in his power
to cut that cord. Don’t let him. Enjoy the Word. Learn the Word. Grow in the
Word. Apply the Word. Live the Word.
Dear Lord, we thank You for Your Word. Thank You for those
who worked so hard to bring it to us. Help us to not just read it but to apply
it to our life and live it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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