They Died So You Could Have & Read Your Own Bible!

 So many have gave their lives so we can have access to scriptures in our own languages. They have fought against religious opposition who  did not want the people to have direct access to the word of God and to the truth.

Before reformers like Luther and Calvin there were reformers like this man, Jan Hus who fought for the rights for us to have access to the word of God directly. If it was not for men like Huss, we would not have bibles!

He preached the gospel to eager crowds. He despised that priests used their lawful authority for unlawful ends. He taught people that God was speaking to them through the Bible , that they did not need to rely on priesthood.  Nor did they need to pay Rome to have their sins forgiven. He died so that we could not only have a bible on our shelves, but so that God himself could speak to us as we read.

Our beloved Huss was burned alive by Priests all the while singing hymns.

When the flames kindled about him, he began to sing, ” Jesus, Thou Son of David, have Mercy On me, ” and so continued till his voice was silenced forever.  ( The Great Controversy, Ellen White, 1888)

We all take our bibles for granted. Today, in this very world people still hide their bibles. It’s unbelievable to believe that there are people on this planet that are not allowed to own a bible.

I recently read this in my magazine,  Voice of the Martyrs, that Balloons from South Korea are carrying bibles into North Korea. The soldiers collected 2,250 bibles- probably trashed them. But VOM volunteers attached slim New Testaments to balloons with tracking devices. In just one month they sent 23,320 New Testaments into North Korea. They have used GPS technology to determine the landing points of each launch. 

Absolutely incredible that God’s word is reaching oppressed people, in the most impossible situations. I’m sure in much the same ways as the earlier reformers did, these bibles are hidden and transferred in the dark, scriptures read at night, taken door to door and into people’s homes in the stillness of the night to avoid death.

According to the American Bible Society, 88% of households have a bible, average # is 4.7 per household and 37% read 1 or more time per week.  61% of polled said they wish they read it more.

I invite you to read the entire bible this year, to honor those that fought so hard for God’s breathed word to be in our hands and to be equipped for yourself with God’s truth, not trusting what you hear from others but guided by a divine guide through scripture.

On this journey, you will be amazed at how the Holy Spirit will speak to you, change you, enlighten you and connect the dots for you. You will begin to understand God’s love, expectations and learn from past historical mistakes.

Make 2015 the year to read the entire bible. I pray for all of us as Solomon did…for wisdom and discernment. I pray that the Holy Spirit would help us to understand His word.

Dear God,

Thank you for men like John Hus who died so that we could read the word for ourselves…So that we could go directly to you. We love you for sending these brave souls ahead, and we ask for you to give us the will to read your book in it’s entirety.

Help us Lord to put aside what we heard from family, priests, pastors, motivational speakers, authors and friends. We Pray that you help us  to be open minded to hearing you speak to us as we read the bible, and when we are confused—we ask for divine clarification. We also pray for those who hide the scripture, those who are dying today for Jesus and we pray that your Word continues to get in the hands of every person on this earth.  Amen.

If you want to join us to read starting January 16th–message me or comment. We want to start reading all the assigned dates now so that on the 16th we will start on that date in the bible. ( We are using a dated one year bible so that all of us will be on the same daily reading).