The pastor was invited by a family from church to join them for lunch the next Sunday after worship. They had a beautiful meal, and they brought out the best china and silverware. It was a delightful meal, but when the pastor left and they started cleaning up, they noticed that the silver spoon, where the pastor had been sitting was missing. They assumed that it was some kind of oversight and kept looking and never could find it. And suddenly the wife blurted out to her husband “I think the pastor stole one of our spoons!” They decided that it would be better to not accuse the pastor, but a whole year went by, and the wife just couldn’t let go of this theft. So she suggested to her husband that they should invite the pastor back. The husband was relieved thinking that the wife was putting all this behind them, but the wife thought that this might be the best way to bring up the stolen spoon. So, the pastor came to lunch after church and again it was a delightful time. But the wife couldn’t stand it any longer and quietly spoke across the table and said “You know, we invited you here a year ago and I think you took one of the spoons from out best silverware. Why would you do that to us?” The pastor listened calmly with a slight smile on his face. When the woman was finished. He looked at her and said “I didn’t steal your spoon last year…I just took it and placed it between the pages of your Bible.
The new year begins tomorrow. It is time for followers of Jesus to break out their Bibles and find out what is really in them. You may not find silver spoons, but you will find treasures so much more important to your today and all your tomorrows. The Bible is God’s story given to you and me. I’m going to read through it from beginning to end at least once and hopefully more than that. In it you will hear of God’s love and mercy, his justice and reward and the key to living a full and rich and satisfying life that will continue even when we close your eyes for the last time on this earth. Don’t let the treasures stay hidden. Open the book and hear the voice of the one who loves you more than anyone ever has or ever will. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (17) God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ