Editorial

by Jonathan Chou

Throughout history, the Bible has transformed countless people’s lives. Criminals stopped breaking the law, drug addicts overcame their addiction, and the sick, disabled and depressed received hope and strength to face challenges in their lives.

The Bible is unlike any other book. It was written by holy men through God's direct inspiration. They recorded the word of God as they had received it, and these writings were subsequently compiled into the sixty-six books in the Bible. Although these forty authors lived at different times and had diverse backgrounds, their messages blend into one perfect piece, without contradiction. For "no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:20–21).

The Lord Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (Jn 5:39). Paul wrote, "... the Holy Scriptures ... are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 3:15). Again he wrote, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Rom 15:4).

Helen Keller, a renowned blind and deaf person, seemed to be doomed to a life of sorrow. Yet she gained hope and strength through the words in the Bible. When the Bible Society gave her a twenty-volume Braille Bible, she shared with her benefactor that she touched the pages of this special Bible with a heart of extraordinary thanksgiving. The Bible was like a staff that had held her up when she was in the shadows of despair and depths of trials; it was the only path that could guide her out of darkness.

Indeed, the psalmist rightly says, "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Ps 119:89,105).

The Bible sustains our spiritual life. This is why the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jer 15:16; cf. Ps 19:7–10). Only the word of God can truly fill and satisfy us. It fills us with strength and provides us with abundant life (Eph 6:17; Rev 12:11; Jn 1:1,4; 10:10).

Mary liked to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His word. The Lord Jesus praised her for having chosen "that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Lk 10:42). In like manner, the people in Berea, "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

May we desire the word of God, meditating upon it daily, keeping it in our hearts and lives. The saints of old read the Scriptures “before the dawning of the morning” and late at night (Ps 119:147–148). Let us pray constantly for God’s wisdom, so that the Spirit of truth will guide us into all truths (Jn 16:13; cf. 1 Cor 2:11–13). Meanwhile, let us strive to be teachable, so that when God awakens us and opens our ears to hear as the learned, we may receive His word, meditate on it and apply it in our daily lives (Is 50:4–5; Jas 1:21–25).