OPEN BIBLES happens when we listen or read the WORD of GOD with the intent to listen, with the intent to hear, with respect and the intent to respond.
It is crazy beautiful. At times, it is challenging because the Bible is a book that if you are in it to receive, you will be convicted of sin. Yes, sin. We all sin and fall short of God. But the beauty of it is the conviction is bathed in love. The love of God permeates the entire text. When you know His love you want to be set free.
Not long after I prayed this prayer for OPEN BIBLES, I just happen to open my door for a person that was delivering documents to us. This would be my third time to meet him. I had enough time to know pieces of his story because he allowed a few open doors as Greg and I met with him. There I stood at the threshold of my open door as God began to move.
"Would you consider forgetting the past and opening the Bible to just read the book of Luke and ask God to show you He is real?"
"I think I could do that. I might have a Bible somewhere."
"Would you like me to give you one?"
"Yes. I would like that."
As I turned to go get a Bible. I heard in my heart, "This one," and then saw my Bible that Greg gave me two and a half years ago. It was my Bible that has all of my notes and prayers from the last two and half years of study and travel.
I literally said aloud, "Alrighty, then!" I went and grabbed it to give to him.
I handed it to him and said, "Here is my Bible. Greg gave it to me. In this Bible, I chose to focus on the character of God. I haven't finished it completely because God had me slow down to read through it, but it's almost done. You will be able to see how God is real to me by the things He taught me. It also has the teaching notes from my travels in it. So you will see in Acts what I taught in Asia. You will see in David's story what I taught in Kenya. You will see what I taught in Ethiopia through Joseph and through Ruth you will see how I taught in another Asian context.
"Are you sure?" He asked multiple times.
"Yes," I said with great joy in my heart for I obeyed immediately and released it knowing that this would be one Bible that would continue to be opened. I had been praying for him. I couldn't believe how God worked it out for me to give him the Word of God.
"You have our number and our address. If you ever have a question just reach out. We are here for you."
"You have no idea how much this means to me!"
I smiled and we said good bye. When I shut the door, I wept. I wept for his soul. I wept that God allowed me to to play a role in his life. I wept because I knew I was in a holy moment. My notes will mean more to his journey and I can look them up again if needed. God has already written them in my heart, but now GOD will sew them into his heart.
Will you join me in praying for more open Bibles in our lives, in our homes, in our churches, and in our nations worldwide? And for our dear friend.
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