I own six Bibles, but who really cares?: On Delighting in Gods Word

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night...

I am re-reading one of the most incredible autobiographies ever written, called The Heavenly Man.  It is truly a remarkable story about a young Chinese man named Brother Yun, and his incredible journey of being used by God to spread Christianity and expand the Chinese underground church.

The first chapters of the book open with Brother Yun as a young child in his poverty stricken village.  As a new believer, he was desperate to own a bible, having never even seen a bible in his life as they were forbidden by the Chinese government.  For 100 days he fasted and prayed that God would give him a bible...and God miraculously granted his request [you'll have to read the book to find out how....it's incredible].

After Brother Yun got his bible, he spent every day from morning until evening completely devouring the words of God.  Having only received a third grade education, he read slowly, using a dictionary to help him along.  After he had gotten through the bible once, he decided he needed to memorize these powerful words, and began memorizing Gods word one chapter a day.

After 28 days, he had memorized Matthew chapters 1-28.  Shortly after, God called this young 16 year old boy to the villages of southern China to "preach".  Not even knowing what preaching was, he made his way to these villages, stood before hundreds of spiritually hungry Chinese men and women, and did what he knew how to do: recited the bible. 

It's amazing how many souls came to the Lord that year...hearing only God's words coming out of Brother Yun's mouth.  But even more amazing to me, is Brother Yun's passion for God's word.  His passion puts me to shame.

You see, I, like many other middle-class, American, Christians...own about 6 bibles.  I have a study bible made of leather, my name inscribed with gold.  I have a couples devotional bible, also inscribed with my name.  I have a pocket bible, to carry in my purse in case I am traveling.  I have an online bible, to use while on my laptop sipping on a Starbucks cup of coffee.  And that's just to name a few. 

I am sad to say it, but in my affluence and abundance I have lost something.  I have lost the passion for God's words.  The bible has become so common place in my life that I take it for granted day after day.   Don't get me wrong, I read my bible every day....but you see, that's just where my problem begins, I settle for that.

I check my daily bible reading off my list, find a little lesson....and move on to the next task. I have lost my passion.  I have lost the desire that cries out from the bottom of my heart to hear God's word, to be in His presence, to listen to His voice.  I no longer hunger and thirst after Him, desperate to hear what He has to say.  The sad thing is, I have lost something....maybe something I never had to begin with. 

It's disappointing when American Christians have so much on their minds that there is no room left for God's words.  Our minds are wasted with meaningless facts, song lyrics, sports statistics and random trivia.  And sadly, we make more and more room for these things while God's words slowly get's pushed back where it came from.  I don't want to settle for this kind of Christianity anymore.  I don't want to settle for six bibles and a lack of passion. 

I want to have a love for God's word that compels me to it day and night.  I want a desire so rich that I can't get it off my mind.  I want to delight in his laws with a delight that is rivaled by nothing else in my life. 

And to be honest, I suppose it begins with shutting off this little computer monitor, and getting into God's Word....so if you'll excuse me, it's time to get my priorities straight.