THE VERY VOICE

I love depictions of children flocking (pun, if you like) to Jesus. Because Jesus loves His flock. Because Jesus loves the little children of the world. Because I notice how young children love to be around their pastors. They want love and they know love and they see it in their pastors.

The phrase "Ipissima Vox" is Latin for the very voice. Now we may not have the very voice that Jesus said, probably more of a paraphrase because of translations and records and the Holy Spirit who revealed through the writers that which was God breathed. But we can still hear His voice, His very voice. And when I go to purchase a new Bible, as I did this week, I insist on red lettering for Jesus' very words, His very voice.

So why was I buying another Bible? We have several in our house Some from many years ago. I recently weakened the spine of my favorite Bible--I'd love to say from overuse, but I think it more a case of misuse:I often times do my BSF homework outside in the warm sun. And my second favorite Word is getting better taken care of. Others were gifts from my grandmother, or from the church when I entered first grade. Some are very big, and I needed a travel Bible.

Not the little pocket ones, but one with a soft cover. After searching for forty-five minutes or so, I found just the one I wanted. It looked masculine, it was not too compact, it wasn't too expensive, and it had Jesus' words in red. Plus, I bought it at a Christian bookstore. What's more, it left me on my own with the Holy Spirit to guide me. That is, there are no notations, no commentaries, no explanations Just me and the Spirit and Ipissima vox.