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| The Bible App |
Just recently, this app has stormed past the 100 million installs mark.
100,000,000!
Think about this for a moment, of the approximately 2.2 billion Christians in the world nearly 5% of them have the Bible App installed on their smart devices. And because of this amazing app they have access to numerous translations, different languages, reading plans, interesting community notes and the possibility of the thing even reading the Bible to them!
I guess the next obvious question would be: How many folks look at or listen to the app beyond the install?
I would sincerely hope that most of this 5% make good use of what is an amazing resource - it's £free! - and regularly dip into the word through a device that we'll all probably have with us most of the time.
Coming back to the title of this post: Where is your Bible app? - or indeed, where is your Bible at?
I remember back in the day, when phones were stupid and could only make phone calls and texts, attending a day long Christian conference. It was quite low key and relaxed, and we sat in a medium to large room. We had the luxury of little tables next to where we were sat and on them we could place our Bibles, cups of tea and coffee, and those dumb little communication devices. To be honest I can't remember what we did that day or what the focus was, but I do remember the following:
There was a man sat not too far away from me; he had a small table of his own, a cup of coffee, a Bible and his phone.
Table. Bible. Coffee. Phone.
In that order.
One laying on top of the other.
Okay, the phone wasn't on top of the coffee, I was writing that for dramatic effect, they were both on top of the Bible - you get the picture.
Not once in the whole day did that Bible get opened. It certainly served as a useful coaster. The thing that bothered me however and the thing that I remember most was the phone buzzing whenever a text message came through. Whenever a text did come through the phone was looked at and placed back down - on top of the Bible.
Checking the phone took priority over opening the Bible. Again, and again, and again.
Now, I hear some of you cry, chill out Mark and calm down maybe he checked out his Bible and looked up all that had been talked about later that day?
You may be right, and I should indeed chill out. But I was reminded of that day recently, and it got me thinking how much respect do we show the books or the apps that contain the Word of God?
How many Bible apps now lay hidden deep in some smartphone folder never opened, or on the third page of the screen pushed out of sight by some Angry Bird or desperate Field Runner?
How many Bibles are gathering dust on the lower shelf or being used to prop something up?
I think we need to show the Holy Scriptures a bit more respect!
I moved my Bible app recently from the folder it shared with other Christian 'stuff' and positioned in on my front page, top left, the first thing your eye sees. I began to search my house for our multiple copies of different translations and picked them up off the floor. From under the (kids) beds and placed them on a shelf at eye level in the front room.
Now I'm not saying that this needs to be done. I'm absolutely not suggesting that God will strike anyone down if they don't do the same if they don't begin to show the Word of God a little more respect. I'm not even sure that our loving Father cares that much about it so long as we are seeking after Him and seeking after others so that they too can come into a relationship with Him.
What I am saying in my own little way is that I truly love what He has given us - the resources, the wisdom, the story, the history, the love, the care. The Good News all brought together to help us begin to understand a little of Him better and to help us realise that everything in it points to His Son - Jesus.
So why don't you have a think about the amazing resource you have at your disposal? If you're from a country that is open to it, be thankful that you can have a Bible freely available with no restrictions or edits.
As a believer have a think about where you place this wonderful collection of letters, whether that be digital or printed, think about its importance in your life and give it due honour.
And the biggest honour you can bestow?
Reading it.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (MSG)
15-17 There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
(*No animals were harmed in the writing of this blog and neither am I being paid to promote this particular app over others. So to even things out here is a random list from a quickly googled website sharefaith.com.)
