Study it carefully,
Think of it prayerfully,
Deep in thy heart let its pure precepts dwell.
Slight not its history,
Ponder its mystery,
None can e’er prize it too fondly and well.
(Author unknown)
Some years ago a missionary in New Guinea translated two of the Gospels into Tavaro, the native language. They were keenly appreciated by the natives. One old chief, Iokobo, who received a copy of St. Mark, was so anxious to read it, and was so envious of the children in his village who could, that in the space of six months he learned to read it for himself. He would take his precious copy of St. Mark into his garden and read it there while he rested. He used to cut little sticks of dry wood and at night he would light them one by one, while he sat and pored over the words of the Saviour.
How this old chief treasured those Scriptures! He puts to shame many of us who possess copies of the entire Word of God. Still it is good to see those now who love their Bibles and spend time reading and pondering its sacred pages.
One boy we know goes to sleep at night with his New Testament under his pillow. When he wakes in the morning his first act is to read a portion from the Word. Surely such time is well spent. The Word of God is unlike any other book, it is the living Word. The more we read it the dearer it becomes, if we seek to walk in the light it sheds along our pathway. King David of old wrote: “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes... More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psa. 19:8-118The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:8‑11)).
By the time this reaches you many of you will be out of school and enjoying your suer vacation. You will have many carefree hours in which to play and to read good wholesome story books. If, like the old chief, you spend many of those leisure hours reading the precious Word of God, He will surely turn it to your blessing both now and in the life to come.
ML-06/03/1962