Which of these is more important to you, your Bible or your cell phone? Recently I saw a church sign that said 'Keep your Bible as Close as Your Cell Phone' but do we do this? My guess is no. A majority of people feel the Bible is just some historic book and could not imagine sitting down and actually enjoying reading it. It is placed in the waiting rooms of doctors offices but probably rarely picked up. Beauty shops have tons of hair magazines and movie star magazines but no Holy Bible. "Why do they need to?" you may say. "You are judging them". The intent is not to judge and condemn but to simply make a point about how we are glued to our 'communication devices' but the one person we should communicate with, that being Jesus, rarely gets our attention. Most of our problems could be solved if only we lived by the things we read in God's word. Satan, the great deceiver, wants you to believe lies, and you will, if you do to know how to counter those untruths by the truth in the Bible.
How do we change this habit of making a 'god' out of our cellular devices? First, if you have a small Bible carry it in your purse. If you have to wait somewhere get it out and read it. Do not be ashamed (see Mark 8:38) or care what people think. Most modern cell phones are connected to the Internet so you could even read the Bible right on your phone. I noticed a girl in church doing this last Sunday. Imagine that?
How often do you witness people who seem that they can not put their cell phone down? It is attached to their belt, even in church. Most people will not take a call in church. Back before cell phones, doctors wore pagers in case they were called out for an emergency, but for the rest of us life could wait. What is so urgent that we have to stay glued to our cell phones?
For those people living in Northern Alabama on 27 April 2011 we found out we could live without cell phones. There was no choice for a while. The tornado had taken our communication away for a time being. Guess what? Life went on! Amazing but possible. Life was better for some as they communicated with their families by 'talking' in person and played old fashioned board games. In some ways the lack of power was a huge blessing, not an inconvenience. So do you like your Bible as much as you like your cell phone? It has more to offer you.
The Gideons make pocket new testaments that are small enough for a ladies purse or a gentleman's back pocket. 2 Timothy 2:15 says for us to "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." To study you need to actually pick up your Bible. A suggestion would be to make it a habit before retrieving the morning paper to sit down with a cup of coffee and open up the Bible and read a Psalm or two to start your day off.
Start today to adjust what you do and try and see if you can leave your cell phone put away and do not drag it with you everywhere like a life support system. Begin your day thanking Jesus for another day and read the Psalm corresponding to whatever day it is to start out. See how your life will change. Psalm 18:3 says " I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies."
PRAYER: Thank you for the miracle of modern day communication. Lord help me not worship my cell phone by paying more attention to it than I do getting to know you through your word. I know certain calls are important but give me the ability to put my phone away every now and then and sit quietly in your presence. In Jesus name, amen!
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