It’s true. With a tap, swipe, and an Internet connection, the iPad is changing the world in how we consume information. Being a Christian for more than 20 years and soon-to-be a decade old Pastor, believe it or not but my iPad brought me closer to the Lord.
Ever heard of the often stated, “God works in mysterious ways.” shtick? Well, this is one of them.
When I got my iPad, I was excited with the limitless possibilities this thin touchscreen tablet can offer. I’m not an impulse buyer. I don’t buy for the sake of buying. Being a technology junkie, I have carefully studied the pros and cons of getting an iPad considering that it does cost a significant amount. But I believe it was a worthy investment.
As a pastor, I do a lot of things. Plenty. My calling is similar to a doctor: On call. 24/7. Without the big paycheck. But I’m good. God is taking care of me.
But, to be honest, I sometimes neglect what is vital for every Bible-believing Christian: a daily meeting with God.
Not just praying a short prayer asking for guidance throughout the day. But an actual allotted time to open His Word, meditate, and pray.
Shocked that this pastor skips devotionals sometimes? Unintentionally, of course. But skips nevertheless. I’m coming clean. Forgive me?
Deep inside me, I yearned to hear from God daily. But perhaps life passes by like a speeding bullet, you get caught in the urgent v.s. important bouts. But I had to decide. I knew reserving a time with God was both urgent and important. It’s a one-sided contest. No debate there.
I prayed. Pleaded. Lord, help me spend time with you. Reveal to me in a way I can understand. God created us, you know. And He knows how we tick.
You know what he did in me? Ask me what.
One day, I woke up, opened the cover of my iPad, and read God’s Word. A Bible App called YouVersion was installed in my iPad. It’s been a few weeks since I visited it. I tapped on the icon and, behold, the Word of God in digital form. For those who are purists would say that the reading the Word of God on paper is the most sincerest way of scripture reading. However, it is not the medium that makes the Bible Holy but the words written on it. God’s Word is God’s Word because of God’s Word. I think there should be no debate on that.
And so I read. For the next few minutes, I read the digitized Bible without thinking if this would be a great sermon series or not. I ate it like a starving person hungry for bread. I was having devotions.
Later on, I visited a few websites, which I know would help me with my reading. Some blog posts from pastors I admire. I watched snippet videos of sermons. Even the simple “Our Daily Bread”, which got a lot of new Christians started in Bible reading became part of my daily regimen. Consider it the appetizer before the main course.
Now, I’m not saying that you need to get an iPad to get closer to God. You are missing the point. The point is that God can use something you have now to bring you closer to Him. God is not hard to find. He doesn’t play hide and seek. If you truly seek Him, you will find Him. And He will find a way to make it happen.
If you jog, use the time and listen to God’s Word with your iPod or mp3 player. If you take breakfast in a coffee shop somewhere, use that to read the Bible on paper or on a computer. Commuting to and from work? That’s a great opportunity to dive into His presence even if you’re stuck in traffic.
It was the decision I made that brought me closer to God. My longing. My yearning. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you too. You can have the iPhone, iPod and iPad but do not have the iHeart to do it. If you “mean” to be with God, then He will take care of the “means”. Get it?
God is not limited. He can make things happen; even using a piece of technology to bring you closer to Him.
So I write this account using the same iPad I use to read God’s Word daily. Come to think of it. It has been a long while since I sat and wrote something this lengthy. God uses the iPad to encourage someone in the world? Perhaps. But that… is another story.
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