I remember the first time I ever really thought about the Bible. It was the week before my fifth birthday and one of my aunts said “Tony, I can’t decide what gift to get you this year so I’m going to let you decide—a pair of brown corduroy pants or a Bible.” I remember thinking “Really, those are my choices!!”

After thinking it over a bit, I must have said “I guess…I’ll take…the Bible.” I’ve still got it—a black, pressed-paper covered copy of the KJV—and to my further disappointment with that gift, there was only one picture in the whole book—a copy of some classic painting of angels descending Jacob’s ladder.

Not exactly the event that I consider the beginning of my love for the Word of God. But, there were other Bibles through other seasons of life that did become very useful and even dear to me.

Fully Authoritative, Fully Trustworthy
As I get older, I find there are fewer and fewer hills that I would be willing to die on. The primary one will always be that there is only one name under heaven by which we must be saved. Close behind that one is the truth that the Bible is the perfect Word of God—fully authoritative, fully trustworthy and sufficient for all matters of life—worthy of my time, worthy of my study and most of all, worthy of my trust and obedience.

Though I may have gotten off to a rocky start, now I love the Word of God. I’m so grateful for the life-giving truth that washes over me every day from its pages. I need it as a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I’m so thankful for this series of messages that, week after week, fans the flame of my love for God’s Word.

Tony Wood