February 23, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Friday, February 23.
On this day, in the year 1455, something happened that changed the world, that changed history, changed culture, changed religion. On this day, five centuries ago, Johannes Gutenberg printed a Bible. He had invented a process called "moveable type" that allowed for the mass production of the written word. Before Gutenberg, almost all reading material had to be hand copied - a painstaking and time intensive process. This created a world where books were not only exceedingly rare, but also exceedingly expensive. The printed word was only available to the very rich and to the very powerful - and that included The Word, as well. But Gutenberg's invention opened the door that gave every believer the opportunity to encounter scripture personally. And that was only 500 years ago!
Imagine what it must have been like to live in a time like that, where a single invention changed the world and everything in it. Well, we don't have to imagine, do we? Because, in our lifetimes, we have seen the creation of just such an invention . . . the internet. And now, any believer - with the touch of a finger - can access any translation of the Bible known to man. And that is why, of course, that in 2024 every Christian is well versed in the verses of the Bible. That is why, in our time, every believer knows exactly what they believe and can quote "chapter and verse". I'm being facetious, of course. Even though we have unbelievable access to God's Word, we still often neglect to open it, to search it, to meditate upon it.
Let the Word of Christ richly dwell in you . . . Colossians 3:16
The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . Hebrews 4:12
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple . . . Psalm 19:7
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . . . Psalm 119:105
Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope . . . Romans 15:4
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
