More Than a Cup of Coffee

Convenience store operator Dale Lanier has found an interesting and creative way encourage people to read and memorize the Bible. If they walk into his store in Snead, Alabama and recite the Bible "Passage of the Month," they get a free soft drink or cup of coffee. It's not like he expects folks to memorize Genesis or something. This month's verse is Psalm 118:8, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Lanier has been doing this for the last six years. He says that he usually gives away between 2 and 12 drinks a day. Sometimes an entire family will come in, recite a passage, and receive their free drink. Lanier believe in the power of the Bible, and he has found a very practical and imaginative way to emphasize it.

That got me thinking that we should do that. Next Sunday, anyone who comes in and quotes a Bible verse can have a free cup of coffee. (Of course, anyone can come Sunday and get a free cup of coffee, but don't tell anyone). If we really do believe in the power of scripture, won't we do something concrete to prove it? If we really do believe that the Bible is a word from God, then won't we show that in some real life way? The real prize we win when we commit ourselves to learning something from the Bible is a fresh and renewed view of God. What David said about sacrifice in Psalm 50:23 applies to our prusuit of scripture as well--

²³ He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”