Two days after the April 27, 1996, cease-fire in Lebanon, a TV interviewer asked Israel's prime minister how the new agreement differed from one a few years earlier. He replied, "This one is in writing, whereas the former one was verbal over the telephone. Print has a different value."

Spoken words can be forgotten, or they can be changed when they are repeated. Written words, though, aren't dependent on memory, and they can't be easily ignored or changed.

In the Old Testament, when God spoke to the people of Israel, He told His prophets to write down what He said (Dt. 5:22; Jer. 36:2; Hab. 2:2). He didn't want His words to be forgotten or misrepresented.

Likewise, when Jesus lived on earth, God gave audible approval of His Son (Mt. 17:5). John, who saw the transfiguration and heard God's voice from heaven, did not merely tell others. Under the guidance of God's Spirit, he wrote a book (the Gospel of John) and three letters (1,2,3 John) so that all his readers would know truth from error, believe on Christ, and be filled with joy (1 Jn. 1:4).

When we read God's Word, we too can "hear" God speak. We can begin to learn of His greatness, glory, and goodness. Are you finding that true?  — Dennis J. De Haan