The Living Bible!

Charles Naylor, 1920
 

The Bible is a living book. What it is to us, depends on what we are to it. If we approach it with unbelief and sneers — then it shudders like a wounded thing and closes up its heart, and we gaze only on a cold and hard exterior. We behold the form of its words, but cannot discern the treasures hidden in them. It appears cold and lifeless and repellent — and we go away depressed and unbelieving.

If we approach it reverently, trustfully, and confidently — then it opens up to us its hidden depths. It shows to us its wonders. We see in it unequaled beauties, unfading glories, magnificent vistas of thought! We hear its voice of love — tender beyond words! We feel the warmth of its affection, are uplifted by its hopefulness, and are thrilled with the tones of its joy-bells.

If we open to it our heart's door and pour out our treasures of affection — it in turn opens to us a great storehouse, and we may eat and be satisfied, and drink and thirst not. We may revel in its rich perfume, the rhythmic cadences of its music, the splendor of its heavenly light — and to us there is no question whether it is the living truth.

The Bible is to the Christian, what the forest is to him who delights in nature. He who walks through the forest laughing and talking — does not hear the sweet notes of the songster nor see the wild beauties. He who would see and hear the things that delight the nature-lover, must steal softly and silently along — and thus he may see nature as she is.

Likewise he who comes to the Bible full of self-importance with mind and heart self-centered — does not see the natural beauty of the Bible. We must come to it effacing self, seeking not our own, but the things of Christ — and we shall find it . . .
a mine of spiritual gold,
a fountain of living water,
a balm for every sorrow,
a light in every dark hour,
the one and only book which meets and satisfies the deepest needs of our soul.