May1, John 17:17

“Grandma, this isn’t the way it really happened,” complained Jessica as she held up her school magazine. “I wrote this story, but they changed it!” Jessica thrust the paper toward Grandma and pointed to one of the articles.

“I’m sorry, honey,” said Grandma, “but when we tell stories, people quite often change them. They might twist what we say or leave out some of our words. They think they’re making the story better.” “But this was a true story! You can’t change the facts,” protested Jessica, “and they did! This says Amanda was the winner of the competition, but she’s not. It was Bee Lan!”

Grandma shook her head. “Well, I guess this goes to show that you can’t always believe what you read,” she said, handing the paper back to Jessica. Jessica frowned. “I guess not!” she agreed.

Grandma smiled as she got out some milk and cookies and set them on the table. “I’m glad to know that there’s one book we can read and be certain that whatever it says is true. Do you know what book that is?”

“Sure.” Jessica nodded. “It’s the Bible,” she said confidently. “We learned John 17:17 in Bible club. It says,`Thy Word is truth.’ We talked about how the Bible is always true.” “Good!” Grandma smiled. “How else do you know God’s Word is true—other than by the verse you quoted?”

“Well… I learned that things predicted in the Bible a long, long time ago actually happened down to the littlest details,” replied Jessica. “Old Testament prophets told how Jesus would be born—and it happened exactly the way they said it would. And archeologists have dug up cities mentioned in the Bible… and… and… I just know in my heart it’s true.”

“That’s because God the Holy Spirit helps you,” Grandma explained, giving Jessica a hug. “News reports quite often state something wrong, but the Bible never does. We can always believe what it says.”

Thought: What do you rely on for truth? Books? News reports? Your friends? Teachers? Newspaper, television, and radio reporters disagree among themselves, so some of them are obviously wrong. Books reflect their author’s beliefs, and they’re not always right. Preachers, teachers, and parents should be respected—they’re in authority—but even they can be wrong. Only God always tells the truth. Whatever He says in His Word—the Bible—is ABSOLUTELY correct.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that only Your Holy Word is completely true and I can rely on it always all the time! Help me read more of it, and it is in Jesus’ precious name that I pray – amen.