The Beacon
March, 2026
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11
In his book, The Evolution of a Creationist, Dr. Jobe Martin put together what he referred to as “A Laymen’s Guide to the Conflict between THE BIBLE AND EVOLUTIONARY THEORY.”
Two of his students at the Baylor College of Dentistry had challenged him to investigate the possibility that the God of the Bible had created everything in six 24-hour days. Jobe’s first reaction was, “Only an ignorant fool would believe in those ancient myths of the Book of Genesis.”
That was in 1971, when Jobe was an evolutionist. He eventually concluded that evolutionary theory and the Biblical creation account cannot be merged. Jobe chose to follow God’s Word, and for decades he has been teaching the Bible (around the world) through his Biblical Discipleship Ministries.
Jobe includes an admonition at the beginning of his book that reads this way: “If you have time to read this book today but have not taken the time to read your Bible, then you do not have time to read this book.” Some people opening his book may have closed it and gone to the Word after thinking about that admonition.
We hosted Jobe and his family at our church in Iowa over 30 years ago. We sat down at the dinner table and shared Scripture during that time. When we were done, I asked Jobe about methods or ways to have family devotions. I may have been looking for “the latest and greatest,” or for some insights on how to go about this. Jobe’s reply was simply to open the Bible and read.
I am not saying that we should not try to be creative. A devotional time can be boring to some, and that’s not good. But God’s Word has Holy Spirit inspiration. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 12:4)
In the church lobby, we have a sheet of Bible verses available if you are interested in memorizing God’s Word (one listing per month). A separate sheet lists Bible books to spend time with alone or with one’s family each month.
The psalmist was motivated to “store up God’s Word” in his heart as a means of preventing sin. That does not seem to be a concern for many people today. Is it time for you to simply open the Bible and read?