Have you ever watched anyone steal from you?
I set up recently at an outdoor event. I put my tent at the back of my van. I placed tables at the front edge of my tent. One table I placed along side of my van. I knew it would be hard to watch that particular table. I knew that if anyone wanted to steal something, that table would make a good target.
I decided to place on this table 2 rows of little orange books that I intended to give away. The largest word on the cover was the word “Passion.” As people approached that table during the day, I yelled out to them to take one if they wanted it.
The afternoon approached and lots of folks had gotten a free copy of “Passion.” One man came by at a distance from my tent. He swooped in close to the table. His hand went out, and a little copy of “Passion” was swept off the table and up between his sleeve and his jacket. As he was walking away, he put it into his pocket. He “stole” a copy of “Passion.”
I turned to my mom. She said, “Did you see that?”
I chuckled. I then remarked, “I really like to see his face when he pulls that book out of his pocket.”
What this man really took was a King James New Testament. In the back the passion story of Jesus is lined up in parallel across the gospels for comparison.
In his mind, this man stole from me. What he stole was God’s Word. I guess God got the last Word.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
When you give a copy of the Word to someone, you never know what God has in store for that copy of His Word. You don’t know how many hands it may pass through. You never know how many folks it may touch and encourage along the way. You never know who may read it and find Jesus.
I hope that man who stole that little orange book – a King James New Testament – found Jesus that day. Should he ever read this, I hope he will know that I am glad he chose to take that book. Like salvation, it was free.
I hope I will get to meet him someday in eternity.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to find ways to share God’s Word with people. It really is not all that hard to do. There are organizations that you can contribute to – of course, but also try to find a way to personally touch the life of another.
Tracts are an inexpensive option. They can be left on your table after a meal at a restaurant or handed directly to folks.
New Testaments are also fairly inexpensive. You may wish to keep one handy in case you decide to give one away. You never know when God may give you the opportunity to reach someone for Him.