Righting Wrongs

Each year as Bible Study begins in September, I desire a new Bible.  It just seems like with the new study, I should purchase a new textbook.  I never do, I continue to use the one my late grandparents gave me in 1998.  The front cover is torn, so I’ve taped it together on the inside.  I don’t take this Bible out of the house as I wouldn’t want anyone to think the Lord hasn’t supplied me with the funds to purchase a better Bible, because He definitely has!  The Bible I carry with me is lavender, and has my name, well, my old name, embossed on the front.  Both are NIV and both have lots of writing in the margins.  It’s those important margin notes that prevent me from purchasing a new textbook!  Those notes are important.  I want to be reminded of what the Holy Spirit said to me the last time I read a particular passage, and a new Bible just would not be the same. 

As a Christian blogger, I belong to a network of Christian Bloggers that are listed on the Bible Gateway website.  From time to time, these writers will ask a favor of the other writers.  In September, we were asked to review a new NIV Bible in exchange for a free copy.  I jumped on this opportunity and my new Bible arrived on the Saturday before our first Bible Study session.  My family watched in suspense as I opened the box left on the front porch, it had to be something special for me to be that excited.  A new Bible!!!  Yay!!!  


Well, the agreement was that I would use the Bible for two weeks, then post a few review of it on my blog...by September 17, 2021...I realized this week that I have neglected to hold up my end of the agreement.  I’ve been using this new Bible and writing fresh new notes in the margins, but I haven’t posted a review.   

I’ve been busy.  I work full time, I am a mother, a wife...a blogger!  From the perspective of the person who made the request, I am a liar.  The deal was that they would send me the new Bible and I would post a review by September 17 - I have not held up my end of the deal.  It may also appear to the author/publisher that I stole this Bible.  I am enjoying the Bible, but this week, when I went back to the email to check the deadline to post the review, I was overcome with guilt when I realized I had missed it...by three whole weeks.  

John said in Matthew 3:2, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  To repent means that we not only feel bad about our sins, our offenses, our misgivings, to repent means that we admit our sins, ask for forgiveness, and turn away from continuing the practice of that particular sin.  I am giving you an example, this week, in hopes that you can relate.  Sin is not always blatant and ugly to the sinner.  I didn’t set out to miss the deadline.  I didn’t set out to steal this Bible or to lie to the publisher, but as I type this sentence, I stand before you a sinner in need of repentance.  

To be clear, I repented of my sins many years ago.  Had my physical body died last week before I posted this review, my soul would be in heaven.  Through the blood of Jesus my sins have been forgiven.  I do not practice sin, but I do sin.  Repentance should be an ongoing process in the life of every believer.  When we don’t repent, when we don’t apologize, when we don’t face the fact that we are not perfect and sinless like Jesus Christ, Himself, we fail to see reality.   In the previous paragraph, I acknowledged how my actions appear to the publisher.  We cannot neglect to see the other side of our sin.  I am not hurt by my actions, but my actions have hurt someone.  Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  It is for that reason that God sent His Son, Jesus.  Jesus is our Savior - His blood takes away our sin, that we don’t have to feel guilt or shame.  Amen.  Do you need to repent today?  You don’t have to do it publicly, as I am in this post, but in your quiet time with the Lord today, admit your sins with a pure heart and ask Him to help you avoid those sins in the future.  He will do it.  Amen.


Thank you for reading,  
Kim
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NIV is my translation of choice and the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible from Zondervan is my new, favorite Bible.  I use this Bible almost daily and find it simple to navigate with the book, chapter and verse at the top outer portion of each page.  (Some Bibles place this info in the center of each page which makes it hard to see without opening the entire page.)  I wear glasses and the font is sizable enough that I can see the main text without strain.  It is a red letter Bible, so the words of Jesus are written in a reddish brown color, making them easy to spot if you are scanning for certain terms.  The center column of each page contains other Scripture references, such as prophecy, as noted by superscripts in the main text.  At the bottom of each page there are additional notes about the main text, almost like a brief commentary to further explain the text.  The back has an NIV Concordance and there are also full color maps at the back.  I highly recommend the Grace and Truth Study Bible.  It has certainly met my needs in recent weeks.  ​