What Price For The Book?

The story is told of a Russian Christian living under the communist regime, who learned that a friend had acquired a Bible. Since he didn't own one, he asked his friend if he could borrow his. His friend told him that he read his Bible every evening until 10 p.m., so each night for 8 months, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., that dedicated Christian laboriously copied his friend's Bible. Several months later, when some fellow Christians visited him with Bibles in hand, he exchanged his handwritten copy for several of theirs.

Can we in the United States of America, even imagine not having access to a copy of the Bible? If we found ourselves in the same situation as the above Christian, what price would we pay to acquire one? Let us take this question to an even deeper level.

When Jesus' teachings began to "offend" some of those who were following Him, many chose to leave (John 6:60-66), so He asked His disciples, "Do you also want to go away?" (John 6:67). Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). Peter knew that Jesus was the living Word; God revealed in the flesh (John 1:14). He was willing to forsake everything in this life to pursue the Lord who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (Matthew 16:24).

Dear reader, in following the Lord, do we have Peter's commitment? Do we have a similar devotion as that of the Russian Christian? What price would we pay for the Book? (Psalm 1:1-2). What price will we pay to follow our Lord? (Matthew 16:24; cf. Matthew 10:37-38 ).

"How precious is the Book divine;
By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its precepts shine,
To guide my soul to heaven
Holy Book divine!
Precious treasure mine!
Lamp to my feet and a light to my way
To guide me safely home" (see video) —L.O. Sanderson

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets