An Old Friend Returns!

When I was a very young believer, God sent a woman into my life to mentor me. Now I didn’t know that was her purpose at the time, all I knew was for some reason I connected with this very kind, elderly woman. This woman, Mother Black, became the one who patiently led me out of my “intellectual babble” into the truth of God’s Word. Yes, I attended church, Sunday School, conferences, etc – but it was at the feet of this gentle woman that I received thet real knowledge found in the Bible.

Mother Black, being very wise knew that I needed a study guide that would help me to understand scripture. Even though she lived on a limited budget, she bought for me my first Dakes Annotated Bible. She assured me that every thing I could possibly want to know could be referenced in this Bible. The Dake’s Bible became my Bible college – it was true – I could find everything that I wanted to know – prepare for any Sunday School lesson – and later when I became Director of Christian Education, I used it to enhance the lessons for the teachers; it served as my reference when I prepared manuals for new members, wrote Vacation Bible School lessons, etc.

The years have gone by and I have used many other Bibles – I have at least ten reference Bibles (I’ve given away many – (it is a gift that keeps on giving) – but none have been dearer to me than the Dakes! However, even with glasses, reading my Dakes was difficult, and over the years I have tended not to refer to it as much. How glad I was to know that it was available in large print. My gift to me, this Christmas was to purchase a copy of this Bible. When I received it, I felt like an old friend had come home.

The Bible urges us to:

15Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.(AMP)

We need a good tool to do that. Yes prayer is essential, yes there is no substitute for the preached word, yes conferences and schools are good sources to build your knowledge of the Bible therein learning the way God wants you to walk. How wonderful however, to ask a question when reading the scripture, and being able to go to the reference and find scriptures and commentary at hand that will provide you the answer.

Whatever your preference – may I urge you to study as never before – a strong spirit of deception is covering the earth – and unless our Bible becomes more than something we carry to church – we will be caught up in it. Is there a Word from the Lord – yes, every day – we can find it – if the Bible becomes our friend.

Kairos,
Maria