Should I?

Serving – February 2014 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Should I?

Here is an excerpt from a letter we received showing the personal challenge one might experience in obediently serving the Lord and being sensitive to His leading.

One of the guys in a cell close to me had been asking for a Bible from the corrections officers for two or three days; however they could not find one. I wanted to give him a Bible, but I was using the only one I had.

Then another Bible, a good study Bible, was given to me. As soon as I got it the Spirit told me to give it to the guy who had been asking for one. I said, “Lord, I just got this Bible and I really want it.” So I wrote the guy a note and told him he could “use” this one until he got a Bible of his own. I did not send the note, but I wrote it so that I would have it ready when I could pass it to him.

Well, about 20 minutes went by during which I struggled with the Spirit as He kept impressing upon me to give the new Bible to the man, not merely loan it to him. Finally, in my heart I released it and wrote a second note to say he could have the Bible. God knew how much I wanted to keep it, but I wanted to obey the Lord even more.

I went to the window in my cell door and got the man’s attention (he is right across from me) and told him, “I have a Bible for you” – holding the new Bible up for him to see. Imagine my surprise when he held up one of his own and said, “They gave it to me yesterday, but thanks anyway.”

Wow! I immediately praised God – not because He let me keep my Bible but for the way He tested my heart. I was happy to have passed this test as only a day or two earlier I shared with someone about the need for our hearts to be open to God so that we can be a blessing to others.

I am growing in Christ and I love it!

Anonymous