The Bible...

     There are 31,102 verses in the Bible which averages out to about 26 verses per chapter, from the 66 combined books of both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  I say this because I have been noticing recently that as we approach the end of this year, there are some people who have been encouraged to pick the verse that is going to be their "verse of the year" for 2019.  I had one professor that took a sabbatical and spent the entire time studying Ephesians 2:8-9.  It may have been his verse or passage for the year but I don't really think so.  People are often encouraged to do something different at the beginning of a new year and they start out with great expectations as to what is going to be accomplished.  One could say, "Well, one verse is better than nothing."    Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
         We know the story of Psalm 119 with its 176 verses, all of which speak about the Word of God except five verses.  There is also the fact that many of us have calendars which have a daily verse on them.  When I graduated from Washington bible College, I had to submit a "life verse" to the college to put under my picture.  I never had a senior picture, so didn't have to complete that assignment.  We are reminded in Second Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is inspired by God and that it is profitable.  That being understood, all of the Bible is important.  We know that the Bible has the answer for the way to heaven.  It shows us the plan of salvation, whereby we can be saved from the penalty of our sins.  The Bible also shows us the way in which we can conduct ourselves on a daily basis and how we are to have and maintain relationships with God and with other people.  It seems to be obvious that there are some people who have a greater love for the Word of God than do others.  I knew one man from Kenya who read through the Bible ten times in every year and each time in a different language.  Some might say that it was impossible, but if you purchase the Bible on tapes or discs you find that there are less than 96 hours from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation.  So, if you have picked out your verse for the year, that is good, but don't stop there.  Make the Bible, the Word of God, the center of your life for the coming year and all of the years to come.  Praise God today that He has given His Word to us. What a shame it would be if we just let it sit on the coffee table or in a drawer.