Mary Jones and her Bible

Mary Jones was only 16 years old when she walked all day, barefoot, to get the Bible she had worked and saved so hard to buy.

Her story has inspired millions and taught us the importance of the Bible.

Bibles are not expensive today and there are many available. But do we treasure it as much as Mary treasured her Bible?

Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Mary kept her Bible and you can see it in the Cambridge University Library.

By Llywelyn2000 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48556089

People were inspired by the story of Mary and determined to make Bibles that were not so expensive.

Revd Joseph Hughes said, ‘If for Wales, why not for the kingdom? And if for the kingdom, why not for the world?’

William Wilberforce met with a group of men in London in 1804 and together they formed the British and Foreign Bible Society to help make the Bible available to everyone

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword ... It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God... and He is the one to whom we are accountable.

Lady Elizabeth Macquarie heard that Bibles were scarce in the new colony in Australia and badgered her husband to start a Bible Society in New South Wales in 1817.

In the first two years they gave away 3000 Bibles. Since then they have donated thousands of Bibles in Australia.

Check out the motel drawers next time you are away from home and you will probably find a Bible from the Bible Society.

Bibles are given to chaplains, prisons, soldiers and others. The Bible Society owns Koorong Shops and is translating the Bible into Aboriginal languages. They do a wonderful work in making the Bible available to everyone.

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