Taking it Off the Shelf

Before we went to Mexico, for the first stem cell treatment, a dear friend brought over cards with notes written by each member of her family, some gifts and a devotional book.  While we were on the trip, I really enjoyed reading the devotions in the book as well as their notes.  When we came home that Saturday night, after being gone for almost a week, we quickly unpacked our luggage and the gifts and prepared for church on Sunday morning.

Over the next few months, several friends would comment on how a devotion they read that morning was just what they needed for that particular day.  Many times God used what they printed from the book to bless and encourage me as well.  It was amazing the number of times that happened.  Larry even mentioned how someone at Men’s Life had quoted one of the writings from the book.

 

One afternoon, when I was in the study sitting at the computer, I glanced at the bookcase and noticed the devotional book I had been given when we went to Mexico.  It had been placed on the top of a stack of books.  When I took it off the shelf, I realized it was the same book so many friends had been quoting.  Since it wasn’t part of my routine at home, I hadn’t even looked for it to see where it had been placed when we unpacked when we came home.  I had the resource all that time, but it didn’t have the potential to encourage and bless me every day until I took it off the shelf and began to read it again.

This month at church, we are looking at the importance of reading and applying God’s Word with our families.  Duane will be preaching on the Family Bible in a series called the word@home.  We have been challenged to round up all the Bibles in our homes to see how many we have.  But just like the devotional book, it won’t matter how many Bibles we have if we do not take them off the shelf and read, obey, and apply what is in them.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.