Spreading God's Word starts with getting God's Word into our own lives

Phalla Chrey, 22, in Cambodia, longs to have her own copy of the Bible (Photo: Scottish Bible Society)

The head of the Scottish Bible Society Elaine Duncan has encouraged Christians to fall back in love with the Word of God.

She was speaking to members of the Church of Scotland at their General Assembly in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Duncan told the story of a woman in a church in Cambodia who was frustrated at having to share a Bible and longed to have her own copy so that she could "savour every word".

Duncan said such an attitude was a "challenge" to Christians living in Scotland and the Western world, many of whom have several copies each in their homes.

"We just take it a little bit for granted don't we," she said.

Duncan said the Bible needed to be a part of the lives of Christians in Scotland if they were to be "geared up" for taking the Gospel to the five million people in the country, many of whom are living without any real knowledge of it.

"To empower them to live that holy life we need to get the Bible back into our own lives, to read it and to savour it word for word, because in that way our relationship with the living God is nurtured and nourished and we become better followers and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ," she said.

She ended her address by presenting a Bible to the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Reverend Lorna Hood.

Upon presenting the Bible, she told the Moderator: "I read this week that a disciple is someone whose goal in life is to live as Jesus would if He were in their place. Our prayer is that this Bible will help you to do just that."

News
Five wishes for the new Archbishop
Five wishes for the new Archbishop

You will face critics and adversity. There will be some who will wish you to fail before you get started. But I, and many Christians across the country and the world will be wishing you God’s blessing and joy on the journey as you undertake this important role.

Assisted dying has been defeated, but the debate is far from over
Assisted dying has been defeated, but the debate is far from over

Please continue to pray for compassionate witness and wise engagement by all those campaigning for the dignity and humanity of the vulnerable and voiceless, and that we will reflect God’s love for all people into the public square. 

Bible Society withdraws 'Quiet Revival' report as it admits data was 'faulty'
Bible Society withdraws 'Quiet Revival' report as it admits data was 'faulty'

Bible Society said the Quiet Revival report "can no longer be regarded as a reliable source of information about the spiritual landscape in Britain".