Have you ever read a passage in your Bible that made you STOP, read it again, and then highlight it because it touched you in a profound way? Have you run across that same passage while reading it the next time and wondered why you highlighted it in the first place?

While visiting my sister in Arizona, she gave me an erasable highlighter. Wow! What an amazing invention. The first thing I thought about was my Bible. I could go back and erase all those highlighted passages that no longer touched me the way they used to. The first passage I highlighted was Genesis 1:1-3, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said , "Let there be light," and there was light.”

How could I possibly erase the highlighting of these words? It was through these passages that I discovered the Trinity existed from the very beginning? If I were to erase this passage I would also erase the foundation of my beliefs (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). So I continue to the next verse, “God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.” No, I can’t erase this either. For it was here that I discovered that God was pleased with His work, I recognized His infinite power, and it was here that I realized that I don’t have to be afraid of the dark because it was created by God and therefore it is also good.

As I flipped through the pages of my Bible every passage that I had highlighted came back to life. What I discovered is rather than erasing the highlighted passages, I ended up highlighting many more. You see my Bible is a menagerie of highlighted, underlined, (circled), and dated passages. It contains hand written notes and treasured gifts (pocket cards, bookmarks, memorial cards, one dried rose, a valentine from my granddaughter, pictures of my family, a love note from my hubby, and a sales ticket – don’t ask). My Bible is my most treasured possession – yet to others it’s a mess! The pages are falling apart and I have sections that are no longer attached to the original binding. My Bible cannot be replaced with a new one because it’s filled with history. Not history in the sense that it’s old and outdated but history in the sense that it is my past and the basis for my eternal future.

I cannot help but compare my highlighted Bible passages to my journey towards salvation. Each passage is an intimate message from God that led me into this beautiful relationship that I have with Jesus Christ. Changing my Bible now would be like throwing away one of God's love letters to me. I would like to believe that heaven rejoiced when my name was highlighted with God’s non-erasable highlighter in His book of life. You are forgiven of ALL your sins, never to be seen no more.

What I discovered is that some things are meant to be highlighted either on paper or in our memories. We don’t always see the power of God’s work the first time but are often blown away when we view the message of God through different eyes.

My sister gave me a very special gift indeed...the gift of revival and renewal. I won't be using that erasable highlighter in my Bible but I know that it will come in handy when I make mistakes on my wall calendar. 

Written by Brenda Bates – December 2005

Scripture:
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." ~Matthew 26:27-29.

My Thoughts:
I often wonder what it would be like to live in a world without guilt. Would I continue to sin? Would I feel remorse for the pain I have caused others? Would I remember the pain that I have caused myself? I began to view the feeling of guilt as a blessing. It’s not God’s way of reminding me what I’ve done wrong but a souvenir of how much He loves me. He paid the ultimate price for me. I need that souvenir to constantly be reminded of how much I need to change my life to walk proudly in His steps.

Christmas Season:
As we prepare our hearts for the Christmas season, think of the people in your life who you have highlighted. Do they need your forgiveness? Do you need theirs? Do you have broken relationships that need to be repaired? Perhaps it’s your own heart that needs to prepare a room for the Holy Spirit. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior…there is no better day than today to start receiving His presence. Click on the angels below to begin your walk with Jesus. My prayers are with you!

Prayer to the Father:
Father there are so many people in this world that are desperate for You in the next. During this Advent season I pray for renewal for those who have opened their heart to You and for those who have not, to be open to the joy and peace that You offer to all Your children. Help them to see that you have a "Come as you are" policy and no sin is too great to receive forgiveness.

Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Your son Jesus. He was born to die for us, for me. Thank You for loving all of us so much that You thought of us from the very beginning...when You were forming the earth and called it "Good." You see the potential in us that we don't see. Lord, highlight our potential so that we can truly understand and follow Your mission here on earth. We want to be Your hands and feet to move others closer to You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.