Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a convicting little story.
Actually, it’s a little survey I’ve been doing. You see, we get lots of churches and Christian schools who come to our Joni and Friends International Disability Center to take tours. There’s really a lot to see at our ministry, and my personal office, in fact, is actually on the tour. The docent will bring in a group, adults and kids; for the most part, they are usually Christians. Anyway, I will show the group how I dictate using voice activation; I will tell them stories about some of the paintings, photos and drawings that are hanging in my office. I'll show them my art studio and give a couple of art lessons. I share my testimony. Anyway! If there’s time, I like to share a favorite portion of scripture from the book of Jude. It’s the 16th verse and it talks about how God hates a grumbling, complaining spirit (believe me, when you work with people with disabilities whose limitations are tougher than yours, you better not complain)! So! I usually ask someone from the group to come over to my bookshelves, reach for my Bible, and flip to the book of Jude so that they can hold it up for me to read the passage.
Now I’ve been doing this for well over a year and frankly, I am amazed how many Christians —even seasoned believers who regularly attend church — I am amazed at how many people don’t know where the book of Jude is located in the Bible! Some people start looking in the Old Testament; some just crack the Bible open in the middle and just start looking. Now, really, I don’t intend to embarrass anyone, and if I see that a person is stymied as to where to flip (by the way, you can find Jude right before the last book, the book of Revelation, right at the end) … If I see they’re struggling, I'll tell them just to turn to the Table of Contents and find it there, which they are happy to do. But my point is, it’s part of the New Testament. It’s only a couple of pages long. It should be easy to find. Any Christian who’s been around awhile and reading the Bible should know where that book is, but many people do not — and I am able to say that just from doing that little survey in my own office.
The point here is, that biblical literacy is sorely lacking. We Christians are not paying attention to the basics. We should be as familiar with the Bible as we are with any book that’s a favorite. Second Timothy chapter 2, verse 15 says, “Do your best (Got that? Do your best) to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” After all, friend, the word should be a lamp to our feet, a light to our path, a guide to our conscience, a monitor to our thoughts, and a comfort to our heart. And to help you get more familiar with the Bible, I invite you to join my husband Ken and me and several hundred others in reading through the Bible in a year. Yes, I realize January is near gone, but it’s not too late to sign up. Just go to my radio page at joniandfriends.org and you can download the chronological Bible reading schedule for 2013. Just pick up where we are — reading the Bible always comes with blessings. After all, the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing the thoughts and intentions of us all.So join us in getting into God's Word.Visit my radio page at joniandfriends.org and just click on the reading schedule.Then “like” it on Facebook and share it with your network of friends to get them reading through the Bible in a year together with us. It’s all there for you at joniandfriends.org.
© Joni and Friends, 2013
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376