Opening The Bible Together

Let’s Open The Bible Together with Jason Griffiths (SIL International) and Bea Wickham (Scripture Union), and see how God’s word brings unity across communities and generations in serving God.

Day 1

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. (Acts 17:26 NIV)

Jason: Here, the Apostle Paul is introducing the true creator God to a group of thought leaders in Athens, and he describes how this is the God who created all people and all nations. There is unity across all nations and all communities through the common creator.

Even as I meet other believers for the first time, we have an immediate connection, as those united in Christ. In fact, for everyone I meet –Christian or not – we have a commonality, as we are all part of God’s creation of all peoples and nations.

Heavenly Father, we worship you as creator God, the one who holds all peoples in his hands. We recognise that we, along with all other people, are your creation. Help me to see others around me today, and open opportunities to act kindly and to have conversations that demonstrate my love for you. Amen.

Day 2

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44 (NIV)

Jason: This passage describes the continuing birth of the early church. As they heard of the saving message about Jesus, they responded in faith and were drawn together in unity to spend time with one another and share what they had.

The believers felt a strong sense of unity, of the value of spending their time and their financial resources on one another. I have been the receiver of both. People have lavishly spent time with me, to mentor me and speak into my life. Others have seen financial needs that I have had and were willing to give to meet my needs. Both of these are special.

Lord, allow me to see the value of others as the early church did. Help me to express this through giving my time and my resources to bless others. Amen.

Day 3

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

Jason: This is one of the parts of Scripture that speak strongly of the value of cultural and language diversity to God. Why else would it specifically mention that those gathered are from every nation, tribe, people, and language?

If God values cultural and language diversity enough to specifically mention that every one of them will be represented before his throne, how much should we also value the different cultures and languages that people identify with?

Lord, help me to appreciate linguistic and cultural diversity as much as you do. Show me how I can appreciate and celebrate those from different backgrounds. Amen.

Day 4

‘What was the message He gave you?’ Eli asked. ‘Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything that he told you.’ (1 Samuel 3:17 NIV)

Bea: In my early 20s, I worked in a Christian Summer Camp in the USA. There was a little girl who had never been away from home who cried all day and all night. I tried so many tactics to calm her down, and eventually decided that if I taught her how to pray, it might occupy her long enough for me to get some sleep. Selfish, I know. It worked; she fell asleep, and I rejoiced. What I didn’t realise, is that God had also been calling her; he had an appointment with her, and he was waiting for me to lead her to him. This camp was the first time she’d ever heard any stories about Jesus. She gave her life to Jesus at the end of camp.

God also used Eli to help Samuel understand God’s calling. God chose both of them in that moment, and he wants to use all of us to teach the generations below us to hear God’s voice.

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to little ones around me who you are calling to your purpose. Please use me like you used Eli, help me to recognise when you are working in a child’s life so I can nurture their faith and raise them to love you.

Day 5

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. (Psalm 78:4 NIV)

Bea: I’ve often caught myself underestimating how much children really take in when hearing Bible stories. Jacob’s [name changed for privacy] story is one of these. After many Scripture Union camps where Jacob had nearly been sent home for his bad behaviour, it finally happened. He cried, bitterly. He was given a Bible with a personal note on the inside cover, encouraging him to turn to God in his times of need. When his dad collected him, he found Jacob reading his Bible, and said he’d read it for the entire 2-hour journey home. Nobody expected this; he had never shown interest in discussions or any biblical topics, but he was listening and taking in more than we could have known.

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your Word and that it is alive and active in our lives. I pray for the children in my life, in my community, that they will be given opportunities to hear your word; please use me in that task.