Should I Give My Niece a Bible for Christmas?

A: The Bible is God’s Word; can you think of anything more valuable to give to someone? The Psalmist was right: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Every day your niece hears literally hundreds of voices — friends, advertisements, text messages, and so forth — that try to persuade her to think and live in certain ways: ways that may be wrong, or even destructive. How will she decide what is true and what is false? How will she decide what is really important in life, and what is worthless? Hopefully she’ll learn this from several sources, including her parents and her church. But ultimately her life needs to be shaped by the Word of God, and you can help her discover this through your gift of a Bible. Even if she doesn’t understand it now, she can as she grows older.

Seek out a modern translation she can understand; your local Christian bookseller or pastor can help you. In addition, consider a Bible that is designed for young people, and includes explanatory notes and articles that will help her understand what it means to follow Jesus.

Pray regularly for your niece; young people today face incredible pressures and temptations. If you do decide to give her a Bible this year, let her know why it’s important to you. And if you’re still uncertain about her reaction, you might also give her another small gift that you know she’ll appreciate.

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(Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.)

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