Spreading the Word

Do we want our thoughts to conform with God's thoughts? It's possible - 1st Corinthians tells us we have the mind of Christ. Romans 12 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The Scriptures produce that type of mindset as we study and meditate on Scripture. Isaiah 55 states:
8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

I reported to you not that long ago about an increase in Bible sales during 2024.  I believe there is a thirst for knowledge in our world today - there is confusion and we need to figure things out.  So, why not go to the authoritative, reliable source of truth, the very words spoken to humanity by its Creator?

Digital Scripture has also been on the rise.  A Christian Post article related:

The YouVersion Bible App saw 798,000 installations on Jan. 5, the largest single day of installs for the phone app in its history.

Bobby Gruenewald, founder of YouVersion and a pastor at Life.Church, told The Christian Post on Thursday that the app “saw 18.2 million people engage in the Bible and more than 798,000 installs” on Sunday.

This broke the record previously set on the first Sunday of last year, while New Year’s Day was the third-highest single-day number of installs in the history of YouVersion, Gruenewald added.

He noted, “We tend to see a seasonal uptick in Bible engagement at the beginning of the year as people start new habits and are interested in reading the Bible for the first time,” and added, “What’s interesting to us is that this year’s increase is even higher than this same time last year, and it’s a trend we’re seeing globally.”

How's this for "globally?" The article noted these snapshots from other parts of the world: "...a 198% increase in activity in Ethiopia, a 94% increase in Egypt, a 74% increase in Turkey, a 65% increase in Ghana, and a 48% increase in Pakistan. Overall, Northern Africa saw a 297% increase in activity, while the Middle East saw a 166% increase."  Some of these are nations that are not traditionally associated with Christianity and the Bible, another encouraging sign that God is moving in the Muslim world.

The Christian Post article concluded by saying: "At the end of last year, YouVersion reported that the app had, on average, 11.2 million new device installs each month in 2024 and approximately 14 million people engaging in the Bible each day."

That can't help but have an impact - and we can be confident that these seeds being planted have the potential for dynamic growth, producing fruit for God's glory.  The Word certainly will not return void. 

But, it has to be acted upon. James 1 talks about being not only hearers of the Word, but doers as well - what we read, we are instructed to obey.  Otherwise, as that passage states, we don't experience the true life change that God desires.  So, praise God for the way that people are exposing themselves to the Word of God; now we can pray that it will bear fruit as they read and apply it - day by day, moment by moment.

We need to keep the Scriptures foremost on our hearts, so that we can experience the power and presence of God.  There does seem to be an unprecedented thirst for the Word of God, that can bring nourishment to the souls of people.  We can turn to the riches of God's wisdom by turning the pages - literally or digitally - via the word on the page or the word on the air - so that we can grow in the knowledge of God.  Faith Radio is here to encourage you in walking according to the principles of Scripture through solid, high-quality Bible teachers and to inspire you through uplifting music.