Amos 8:11-12: “Behold, the days come, says the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
We recently celebrated our Independence Day here in America and the price that was paid for us to have it. Have you considered the price that was paid for us to have the Bible in our language?
A few centuries back church authorities did not want the Bible in the hands of the people, they forbad their even reading it. It was reserved for the church leaders to interpret for the people. But William Tyndale, a 16th century Englishman, believed the people should have a Bible so he translated it into English while living in Germany. Finally in 1525, he was able to publish a New Testament. But the church authorities of the time were not at all pleased and they angrily sought to destroy Tyndale and his translation. Finally, he was caught and brought back to England where he was burned at the stake.
As he was dying, he uttered these words: “Lord, open the eyes of the King of England.” His prayer became a prophecy, as it was the King of England, King James, who about a hundred years later finally did publish the entire Bible in English.
Our English Bible translations became a reality through William Tyndale’s heroic sacrifice and bravery, ultimately at the price of his lifeblood. As believers in the Lordship of Him who inspired the book we must read and study our Bibles on a regular basis. Considering the cost that has been paid so that you could read it in your native tongue, let’s all take full advantage of this precious gift.
May we never forget the price that was paid for our precious salvation, our forgiveness and our freedom from sin! The early translators of our English Bible gave their lives so that we could read how our Savior and Lord Jesus gave His life that we might have the eternal life of God!
“For these things and all of Your blessings we are eternally thankful, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
Pastor Brunner is the founder and director of Jim Brunner Ministries
