Can we ever be "too serious" about studying the Word of God?
No... that is the simple answer.
Early this morning as I lie awake in my bed I listened to a sermon given by John Piper at the New Attitude Conference just earlier this week... on Memorial Day, to be exact. The title was William Tyndale: A Life Transformed by God's Word, and you can click here to listen or download the audio.
Piper recounts the story of the life and work of William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) who was a Protestant Reformer and Bible Translator. He described Tyndale as having "one driving passion: he wanted to see the Bible in English to that ordinary folks would have access to it." Now, as one of those "ordinary folks" who can read and write in the single language of English, I have much to be thankful for as I learn about the great sacrifice that Tyndale gave so that today I might be in possession of not one, but several Bibles. Tyndale gave his life for the Word... he was strangled and burned at the stake at the age of 42.
But Tyndale's work lives on... According to Piper, Tyndale's work made its way into about 90% of the King James Version of the Bible, originally published in 1611. Listen to the sermon to hear some of the key passages that you know very well that are part of Tyndale's contribution.
And when you listen to the sermon, focus in on Piper's closing comments:
A few hours after listening to this sermon and thinking through it a bit, I remembered some comments I have heard over the past couple of days and my heart was broken. Comments like "we're just going to take the summer off (spiritually, that is)" or "let's do a bible study... nothing too serious" or "I just can't seem to find time to study God's Word." Heart broken.
God, as an heir to this amazing legacy, may I never treat your Word lightly. May I be "too serious" and "too intentional" about learning it, meditating upon it, applying it, proclaiming it, relying on it! May I spare no effort to work it into the fabric of my every day life... Through Your Word and the power of Your Spirit at work within me, will You transform this lowly , sinful, wretched life into one that brings glory to Your Name? Not for my sake, but for the sake of Your precious Son!
Friends... get serious about God's Word!
Early this morning as I lie awake in my bed I listened to a sermon given by John Piper at the New Attitude Conference just earlier this week... on Memorial Day, to be exact. The title was William Tyndale: A Life Transformed by God's Word, and you can click here to listen or download the audio.
Piper recounts the story of the life and work of William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) who was a Protestant Reformer and Bible Translator. He described Tyndale as having "one driving passion: he wanted to see the Bible in English to that ordinary folks would have access to it." Now, as one of those "ordinary folks" who can read and write in the single language of English, I have much to be thankful for as I learn about the great sacrifice that Tyndale gave so that today I might be in possession of not one, but several Bibles. Tyndale gave his life for the Word... he was strangled and burned at the stake at the age of 42.
But Tyndale's work lives on... According to Piper, Tyndale's work made its way into about 90% of the King James Version of the Bible, originally published in 1611. Listen to the sermon to hear some of the key passages that you know very well that are part of Tyndale's contribution.
And when you listen to the sermon, focus in on Piper's closing comments:
"Young people, you are the heirs of an amazing legacy...The Bible you hold in your hand cost William Tyndale and many others their lives, so don’t spare any effort in thought, any effort in work to know [your Bible]...And don’t ever think your hard work is the decisive key. The decisive key is the sovereign grace of God... I plead with you, don’t waste your life."
A few hours after listening to this sermon and thinking through it a bit, I remembered some comments I have heard over the past couple of days and my heart was broken. Comments like "we're just going to take the summer off (spiritually, that is)" or "let's do a bible study... nothing too serious" or "I just can't seem to find time to study God's Word." Heart broken.
God, as an heir to this amazing legacy, may I never treat your Word lightly. May I be "too serious" and "too intentional" about learning it, meditating upon it, applying it, proclaiming it, relying on it! May I spare no effort to work it into the fabric of my every day life... Through Your Word and the power of Your Spirit at work within me, will You transform this lowly , sinful, wretched life into one that brings glory to Your Name? Not for my sake, but for the sake of Your precious Son!
Friends... get serious about God's Word!
1 comment:
sis, thank you SO much for blogging that today. those words actually came out of my mouth..."nothing too serious for the summer" when i was talking about our connection class's bible study. i'm ashamed of my indulgent attitude. john piper rocks, as usual.
love,
karen
btw...i bought a laptop yesterday!
Post a Comment