PRAYER DEDICATION FOR THE YEAR 2015 “ See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, . . .And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? “(Deut 4:5-8) In the year 2010 our nation entered its Jubilee decade (2010-2020) 490 years since Magellan planted the cross, the symbol of Christianity on Philippine soil. During the Jubilee proclamation and celebration on March 16, 2010 at Cebu a Tagalog Bible was sown in the foundation of the Jubilee marker to signify the planting of the Word of God in the very womb of the Philippines. The Bible, God’s Word did not come to the Filipino people together with the Christianity established by the Spanish colonizers. For almost 400 years the Catholic Bible was only in the hands of priests and friars in the Islands -- but not within reach of the common Filipino, in fact it was forbidden for them to have a Bible. History recalls several people, among them Filipino leaders, who were put in prison or deported, just because a Bible, or a portion of it, was found in their possession. During those times the Bible read outside the church was a subversive book. It is God’s intention that the Word of God be the foundation of the Philippines – being the only Christian nation in Asia. From 1850’s to 1900 God moved several foreign Bible societies to introduce the Bible in the country. In 1905 the whole Bible was translated and published in Tagalog. On November 19, 1982 former President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Proclamation No. 2242 declaring that “it is fitting and proper that national attention be focused on the important role being played by reading and study of the Bible in molding the moral fiber of our society.” This proclamation was reaffirmed by two other presidential edicts issued by Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, both encouraging the daily reading and study of the Bible and using it as a guide and standard for national life and governance. In spite of these presidential edicts and the many years of Bible promotion and distribution the Bible has not yet reached the majority of the Filipino people. The survey conducted by the Philippine Bible Society in 2008 showed that 60 percent of the population that does not read the Bible or even own one. And out of that 60%, 70 % are youths and young professionals. As we enter the 6th Jubilee year of our nation this coming year 2015 let us renew our commitment to plant the Word of God in the land and make righteousness the foundation of our nation through God’s enduring and eternal Word. On Dec 31, 2014 as we enter 2015 the new year and a year of major shakings let us continue to build the foundations of our lives by hearing and practicing the Word of God. “…but now he has promised, ’Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” (Heb 12:26) “ Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matt 7:24-25) As individuals and as families like Joshua as he and his generation was about to enter a new season, let us seriously take heed the Lord’s instruction: “ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). In the beginning of the year with the Scriptures in our hand let us stand before God, pray and commit to read the whole Bible in one year with the heart to hear and practice God’s Word. On January 2015 as local churches and ministerial fellowship let us implement the presidential edict that designates the last week of January as National Bible Week (Jan 19-25, 2015), culminating on the month’s last Sunday as the National Bible Sunday (Jan 25, 2015). The Presidential edicts also stress the need for “national attention to be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible and its use in molding the spiritual, moral, and social fiber of our country.” The Philippine Bible Society suggests many ways to celebrate National Bible Week such as: 1. Petition local officials to issue a barangay/town/city ordinance to institutionalize the yearly NBW celebration in your locale. 2. Organize an inter-church (e.g. Catholic, Evangelical, Protestant) NBW parade or motorcade in the community. 3. Initiate a celebration in LGUs through a Bible reading and distribution during their Monday flag-raising ceremonies 4. Distribute Scripture selections or booklets to prison inmates, hospital patients, public markets and transport terminals, public schools 5. Plan a special National Bible Sunday Worship service with the sermon/homily focusing on the year’s NBW theme. 6. Stage a sports event like a marathon or fun run to increase awareness on the Bible and to help raise funds to provide Bibles for underprivileged Filipinos. “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. . .The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us “ (John 1:1-2, 14)
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:11:45 +0000
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