When I want to read the Holy Bible in simple, day-to-day terms, I run to The Message Bible. Sometimes, I have the tendency to just read through familiar passages because I think I know them already after years of reading them again and again. I will not deny that I sometimes shrug off listening or reading the verses because I鈥檓 already used to them.
Conscious of this not-good practice, I read The Message Bible. It is not a translation of the Holy聽 Bible. It just uses contemporary language. Some regard it as聽 paraphrasing, though not explicit, to help people better understand the meaning of God鈥檚 Word.
For example Psalm 23:1-4 . In the New International Version, this is how the verses read:
1. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3. he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name鈥檚 sake.
4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
In the The Message Bible, you read this as:
1. GOD, my shepherd! I don鈥檛 need a thing.
2. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
3. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I鈥檓 not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd鈥檚 crook makes me feel secure.
Last week, on the second day of this new year, I found myself reading Matthew 5: 9-12 in The Message Bible and I actually enjoyed reading the contemporary version of聽 鈥淏lessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth鈥︹��
Here鈥檚 how The Beatitudes are presented in The Message Bible:
You鈥檙e blessed when you鈥檙e at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You鈥檙e blessed when you feel you鈥檝e lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You鈥檙e blessed when you鈥檙e content with just who you are鈥攏o more, no less. That鈥檚 the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can鈥檛 be bought.
You鈥檙e blessed when you鈥檝e worked up a good appetite for God. He鈥檚 food and drink in the best meal you鈥檒l ever eat.
You鈥檙e blessed when you care. At the moment of being 鈥榗are-full,鈥� you find yourselves cared for.
You鈥檙e blessed when you get your inside world鈥攜our mind and heart鈥攑ut right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
You鈥檙e blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That鈥檚 when you discover who you really are, and your place in God鈥檚 family.
You鈥檙e blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God鈥檚 kingdom.
I believe it is timely that at the onset of 2014, I am able to understand more, in plain language, the blessings that God has in store for me by reading this version of The Beatitudes. So I also exhort all of you to claim, in Jesus name, the grace from God to be 聽able to look at frustrations and despair as blessings; to regard contentment as what will make us rich in heaven; to avoid fights and arguments so we can have a place in heaven; to accept that oppressions and sufferings actually bring us closer to God; to care more because it opens the door to being cared.
I like to share this new year message sent to me by Dr. Henry L. Yu. I think it also captures the essence of The Beatitudes.
鈥淣ew Year is a time to renew our thanks to God Almighty as we look back and count our聽 blessings. Truly, there are more fortunes than misfortunes, more happiness than sadness, more聽 friends than enemies, more laughter than tears.
Let us thank God for being able to鈥� live under a sheltering roof of a place we call home鈥β� bathe ourselves with water from the faucet鈥� do things more conveniently and comfortably聽 with the electric power on鈥ave food on the table..have bonding times with the family鈥ork聽 till we recline and call it a day.
Let us thank God for鈥� the miracle of being able to open our eyes and wake up to a brand new聽 day with the assurance that there is nothing that God and us cannot handle together鈥� giving聽 us 24/7 to live the purpose-driven life according to His will, nourished by His words and guided聽 by the Holy Spirit.鈥� the precious Gift of Life and the chance to love and care, to serve and聽 share, in making this world a better place. All these and more鈥︹��
Thank you Dr. Yu for your message. Thank you to all of you who have been following this column. I hope I have done the mission God has given me to touch your lives in a way that will bring us all closer to Him.
Blessings to us this new year!