I was just struck by a thought. It may be a strange thought to some, not worth thinking to others, and yet it seemed utterly profound to me.
I was scrolling through my church’s private website looking at the group sections where I volunteer—we have this incredible social networking tool called “The City”—and I came across a scriptural reference. The verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which basically says “pray all the time.”
The verse itself isn’t what I want to focus on—although it is quite a convicting verse. What struck me was my reaction when I came across it.
I didn’t know the verse off hand and wanted to look it up. As I sat at my desk with my computer in front of me, my iPhone to my left, two bibles on the coffee table, and an entire shelf full of different translations I was frozen.
I want to look up the verse…but how?
I could log into my Accordance Bible software, search on the YouVersion Bible Ap on my phone, walk across the room to the coffee table or stand on my tip-toes to grab a Bible off the top shelf.
The reality that hit me was that I only cared about what would be faster. (For those who are interested, I chose my IPhone.) I didn’t stop to praise God that I have a multitude of options for reading scripture. I didn’t stop to pray that He would reveal himself to me through the sacred words. I didn’t even stop to ponder the miracle of having scripture at all. All I wanted was to read the verse fast and then move on.
There are people all over the world who don’t have Bibles and would give anything for one—maybe even for just a page of one. I know this because I work for a company that helps raise money for gospel-based mission organizations. I’ve read a letter from a girl in Africa who wants nothing more than a Bible. No clothes, no new house, no Iphone or wii. A Bible, pure and simple.
Here I am with Bible Software, phone applications, books galore, and all I care about is how fast I can get to it. I bet that little girl in Africa would be amazed if she knew how blessed I am—how blessed we all are—with scripture available literally at my fingertips.
It makes you stop and think…what was I thinking really?
