Show Us Christ

By Sovereign Grace Music

Prepare our hearts, O God. Plant Your Word down deep in us. Cause it to bear fruit.
Open up our ears to hear. Lead us in Your truth.

There are 7,360 languages spoken on this earth (1). Did you know that? I guessed a few hundred. I was way off! Out of that 7,360, there are 3,415 languages into which the Bible is not translated (1). Approximately 255 million people (1) speak one of those 3,000+ languages. So that’s 255 million people who do not have access to a Bible that is written in their own language.

We are privileged to have something that over 250 million people do not have—the Word of God, written and readily available to us in our language.

In 2019, Voice of the Martyrs published a map that highlights 52 countries where the Bible is either dangerous or difficult to obtain, illegal or highly restricted, or where it can only be obtained through covert operations (2). That’s right…smuggling! Imagine having to have to get your Bible smuggled to you!

Again, we are privileged to have something that is highly sought after in 52 countries—the Word of God, written and readily available to us at the turn of a page or the touch of a finger.

When I read these statistics, it made me think about how I have been taking the Bible for granted. In fact, I realized that I have even been taking the reading of Scripture at church for granted. When we gather for church services, we have the privilege of hearing the Word of God spoken to us in our language, without fear of persecution.

Do you realize how great a freedom that is?

In his message on the importance and privilege of public Scripture reading, Ligon Duncan said the following:

“‘The reading of the Word of God ought to be an event.’ [quoting John Reed Miller] In other words, it’s something that the people of God ought to anticipate and recognize the importance of…because the reading of the Word of God is a means of grace.

When God’s Word is being read, you are hearing what God has to say to you, unfiltered, directly. It’s like hearing God speak out loud to you. It’s His word written being read to you, with no filter, by the minister of God’s people. That’s a very, very significant thing.”

This Sunday, we will be introducing something new to our services at CPC. Prior to the Bible reading that comes before the sermon, we are going to sing a hymn that relates to Scripture. There are two purposes for this: 1) to remind us of the importance (and privilege) of reading and meditating on God’s Word, and 2) to prepare our hearts to hear what the Lord is saying to us through the reading and preaching of his Word. We will be singing old, familiar hymns, as well as introducing new ones.

One of the songs I hope to eventually include for this time is “Show Us Christ.” This is a song that will center your heart as you prepare to read the greatest book ever written.

As we know, the main character of this book is Jesus Christ. He is not just the main character of the New Testament, but of the Old as well. He was present from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. Every time we read or listen to the Bible, we are afforded the opportunity to get know Jesus better, thereby leading us into a deeper relationship with him.

When you read the Bible, ask the Lord to reveal Christ to you in his Word. As you do so, I pray that you may fall deeper in love with him and become more like the author of Psalm 119—a lover of God’s law and a follower of his Word.

And do not take granted the privilege of reading and hearing God’s Word, for in it there is life.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John 6:68

Click here to listen to “Show Us Christ.”

References
1“2020 Scripture Access Statistics,” from Wycliffe Global Alliance.                                                  https://www.wycliffe.net/resources/statistics/
2“ABible for Every Believer,” from Voice of the Martyrs.
https://www.persecution.com/bibles/