There are many who can recall with gratitude the impact a chorus made upon them when they were young:
"The best book to read is the Bible!
The best book to read is the Bible!
If you read it every day it will help you on your way,
Oh, the best book to read is the Bible!"
Tomorrow, the second Sunday in Advent, we think of the special prayer for Bible Sunday. We agree with those who know it is essential to read an article more than once in order to "catch" its message. In the prayer for Bible Sunday about our reading of the scriptures we are bidden to hear them, read them, mark them, learn them and inwardly digest them, as in prayer we wait on God to reveal His message.
The careful dwelling upon God's Word does wonders in restoring our faith, not only in His willingness to act, but also in His ability to act. For generations there has been a space for meditation in the Communion Service, with the aim of restoring faith in the power of God. The comfortable words, the strengthening words, if we hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, increase faith in God's power.
"Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you."
"So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
"This is a true saying, and worthy of all to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
"If anyone sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins."
There is today a new interest in the Christian faith, and more specifically in the person of Jesus. The Alpha Course is an attractive introduction to Jesus Christ. One part of that course deals with reasons for careful reading of the Bible until it becomes a delight and centre of life. In the opening words of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, St Paul delights in what he had learned through inwardly digesting the meaning of God's word and ways:
"God's encouragements are adequate for all life's troubles. Thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is our Father and the Source of all mercy and comfort. For He gives us comfort in our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in theirs. Indeed, experience shows that the more we share Christ's suffering, the more we are able to give of His encouragement. This means that if we experience trouble we can pass on to you comfort and spiritual help; for if we ourselves have been comforted we know how to encourage you to endure patiently the same sort of troubles that we have had. We are quite confident that if you have to suffer troubles as we have done, then, like us, you will find the comfort and encouragement of God."
The Lord bless to us the reading of His Holy Word and to His Name be the praise and the glory. Amen.