The other day my friend John Freund linked to a post that asked a simple question: “I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?”
What would it be like, the author of the post asked, if we carried our Bible around with us…flipped through is several times a day…treated it like we could not live without it…ran back to get it if we forgot it?
Our devotion to our smart phones, our computers, our iPads, etc. runs pretty deep. Watch how quickly passengers flip on their phones the minute a plane lands, as though they can’t wait another minute to see what happened online during the duration of their flight. Watch the reaction of a friend when they realize the battery has run down on one of their devices. Look around a restaurant to see how many people are playing with their phones. Look at the statistics at how many texts young people send every day. (I write all of this with some chagrin because of the frequency with which I check my e-mail or stop to post something on Facebook or another site.)
J.I. Packer wrote in his book God’s Plan for You: “Whatever controls and shapes one’s life is in effect the god one worships.”
The question asked in the post I began with is a good one. What if replaced our fascination with and reliance on our technological devices with equal devotion to the Word of God?
Creo en Dios! 
Is not the problem? We treat too many things as ‘our bible’. . .
‘Our bibles’ are our chains of constriction. The dawn of day often begins frantically devoted to ensuring the ‘wagon’ we pull out the door behind us is stored and organized. That ours is filled with the ‘old and new’ that motivates and inspires – secular chapter and verse for reflection; exercise and fitness CD’s and programs that promote (often promise) glutes, abs and chests that social media idolizes; the latest dietary and nutritional guides; the most stylish fashion trends as viewed in magazine, on runways or espoused by Stacy and Clinton on ’What not to Wear’ and similar syndicated offerings; investment scenarios printed, ‘googled’ or downloaded that temporarily suspends ‘Power Ball’ ticket purchases; self-help and motivational handouts from seminar or infomercial purchase; and ‘apps’ for everything (and more) media outlets deem needed; and yes, often scripture – and there are many ‘books’ and interpretations to choose from.
Is it any wonder life is often difficult and suffocating? Simply pulling ‘our wagon’ is exhausting enough. . .
Might it be wise to begin and end each new day with prayer, thanksgiving and reflection, and focus on why God created us and the knowledge our legacy, on earth and in Heaven, will be how we ‘love each other’ . . .
Devotion to so many ‘bibles’ complicates a simple request, “Love each other as I have loved you.”