This is Robinson Crusoe Day.

Robinson Crusoe is probably the best-known “survivor” of all time. This man ended up alone on an island after his ship wrecked. He had no TV, phone, DVDs, video games or CDs—pretty boring, right? Absolutely not! You can read the exciting story of his adventures in the book by Daniel Defoe.

Suppose you, like Robinson Crusoe, were marooned on an island, cut off from family, friends, and the rest of civilization. What would you like to have with you to help you survive? How could you make it through those long, lonely days and nights?

A knife would come in handy. And how about dry matches, a raincoat, and fishing hooks—those sure would be good to have. But here’s another suggestion: your Bible. That’s right. You also would have to survive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Having God’s Word would help you stay in close contact with him. The Bible’s stories, teachings, and promises would give you hope and encouragement. In fact, many other “survivors” (including prisoners of war) have said that Bible reading and prayer helped them hold on until their rescue.

How many Bibles do you have? How often do you read God’s Word? Instead of taking it for granted, pretend that, like Robinson Crusoe, you live on an island and need to survive. Then read the Bible, looking for hope and for direction and, of course, for God.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103, New International Version).

To Do

Commit to reading the Bible regularly—a passage or a chapter a day. Keep a record of God’s “Survival Tips.”

Also on this day . . .

1790—The U.S. Supreme Court convened for the first time in New York City.

1862—”The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” by Julia Ward Howe was first published in the Atlantic Monthly.

1900—Eastman Kodak Co. introduced the $1 Brownie box camera.

1957—P.H. Young became the first black pilot on a scheduled passenger airline.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.