Beautiful Words, Wonderful Words

According to Ethnologue (a language catalog), there are about 7,097 languages in the world. Also, Wycliffe Bible Translators counted 670 complete Bible translations. Meaning about 9% of all the languages in the world have access to all of God’s Holy word. If you’re reading this, I guess you speak English (something 80% of the world’s population can’t do) — which falls into that blessed 9% of languages with a complete Bible translation.

Also, if you’re reading this…well, you can read. According to UNESCO, one out of every four people couldn’t read this - no matter the language. And the less-developed the area, the more likely people are to be illiterate. In India it's estimated there are 1,600 languages - about 1 in 5 have at least some of the Bible available to them, but literacy rates are very low in rural areas. This is where the RCA’s national partner in India ministers.

The goal of this partnership is to create high-quality audio recordings of scripture for all the people of India. To date, they have recorded more than 90 translations. For many of the people blessed by this ministry, these audio recordings are the only access they have to interact daily with the Bible.

We interviewed a couple who both grew up Hindu. They first heard about Jesus when the husband took a job as a security attendant at a church. Gradually, they began to see that among all their gods, there was not one who could save them and bring peace to their lives. After talking with Christians at the church where he worked, both accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, were baptized, and were so hungry to know more about God and His love for them! However, they were uneducated and could not read - although there was a full Bible translation available in their mother tongue.

When they purchased an Audio Bible player for a small fee over a year ago and could hear the Word of God on a daily basis, they began to grow in faith. Angelie says that when she is able to hear what God has done for her, she cries. The first time she heard the Gospels in her own language -- a recording funding by RCA donations -- she thought she was going to heaven. As a family, they listen daily and receive such peace from God as they never experienced as Hindus.

They know that the Bible is not to be treated lightly nor disregarded in the slightest. They listen from breakfast straight through the day until they fall asleep; so thankful for the life-changing Words filling their home.

There is an old hymn that you may know…

Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of life,

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of life;

Words of life and beauty

Teach me faith and duty.

I’ve thought of these words often during our time in India. Of the power of the Bible to change hearts and lives, of God’s goodness in sharing His Word with us, and of how we fill our lives with that Word in order that we might become more like Him.

There are many illustrations throughout scripture that teach us about God’s Word… The Bible is Spiritual Food (Deuteronomy 8), Eternal (Isaiah 40), Fire and a Hammer (Jeremiah 23), a Sword (Ephesians 6, Hebrews 4). The Word of God is near, true, upright, praiseworthy, living, active, and of course, God-breathed.

When we soak in God’s Word, the Bible says we will be blessed, more in tune with God’s will for our life, free, alive, born anew. While I do read a print (or screen) Bible regularly, I’ve been so convicted this week about all the news radio, audiobooks, podcasts, etc. that I listen to. For all the noise I put in my ears, I’ve never listened to the Bible straight through. Personally, I’ve resolved on this trip to start that process. What noises float around your home? Do they have the power to restore you and bring you peace in the way Scripture does? Will you join me and the people of India in listening daily to God’s word?

#India #AudioBible