I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 NIV
The Bible is extraordinary. I think everyone could agree with that. It has sold over 5 billion copies. It has survived through time, like no other book. Considering how and when it was written, it is a miracle that we have so many ancient copies from which we can validate modern translations. Its accuracy is important because of the claims contained in the Bible. While there are a few older books like the Epic of Gilgamesh and The Iliad and The Odyssey, the Bible stands above all the others in terms of influence. No book is as loved and hated, so revered and so reviled. The claims of the Bible are a wedge between those who accept its message and those who find it foolish, offensive, or impossible. I won’t spend my time defending the Bible. It stands up for itself well. Many honest skeptics have sought to disprove and expose it as a hoax only to find that it is highly reliable. Some have believed as a result of their study. The Bible is extraordinary in its ability to change the human heart. It brings wisdom to the reader, unequaled by the best philosophies of the world. It is more divisive than any book ever written. It demands a choice of its readers. The results of that choice create the greatest divide on earth. Those that are lost and those that are found.
A father should prioritize scripture in his home. If we want to hide the Word in our hearts, we must bathe our minds in Scripture daily. We must internalize its message and ethics. I have spent my whole life studying the Bible, not in a scholarly way, but as one who values God’s Word. Every time I listen to a sermon, I take the verses to heart as God’s instruction for my life. Every time I read the Bible, I do the same. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV) The Bible is an unparalleled guide for life.
I have noticed something interesting while writing this book. As I am working out ideas on the page, Bible verses pop into my head that support or illustrate the ideas I’m trying to communicate. I don’t have to search them out or discover them, they are already in my head. Relevant verses jump to the surface at the appropriate moments. This has been true for this book and is also true in my life. I believe the Holy Spirit brings Scripture to our minds, but if we don’t spend time internalizing God’s Word, it won’t be in our database for recollection. That doesn’t mean God can’t guide us to the Scripture and help us discover key verses in the moments of conflict, confusion, and decision, but isn’t it better to have the data on our hard drive already?
As a father, I want to provide my kids with a vast Biblical database to reference in times of trouble and in times of plenty. There is no better source of wisdom. It will guide them through murky waters, storms, and disillusions crafted by the world. I suggest you make Biblical education a top priority. Your kids will thank you later.
