I Don't Know Anything About This Book

 She was covered in tattoos. She had dark hair and seemed a little reluctant to be in the room. Someone invited her to our Bible study for 1 Way at the detox center. It did not take long for her to express her fierce anger at people in her family who hurt her. 

That statement inspired the direction of our study for the day. We dug into the scriptures with some familiar faces and and this one new lady. When we gave her a Bible she had no clue where to turn. That is when she said, "I don't know anything about this book." I knew from that statement that she was probably lost in her sins without a saving knowledge of Jesus. One of the other residents gave her the page number and helped her find the chapter and verses we studied. 

Instead of being bored in the study she seemed interested. Clued in. I could see God was working. Softening. Convicting. Drawing. 

When we got to the end of the study my attention turned to this lady we will call Mary even though it is not her real name. I could tell God was stirring Mary. I explained how to be saved and forgiven. Instead of turning a deaf ear she seemed interested. Others in the room who were recently saved encouraged and prayed for her. 

She answered God's call. Jesus gloriously saved Mary this past Sunday. She did not know anything from the Bible. Did not know how to use it. She met the Savior of the Bible. Her life is transformed. She is a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come. 

When we left the study one of the other residents sat with Mary showing her some basic things about using her new Bible. We encouraged her to start reading in the gospels. Over the past nine months we have encouraged many other new believers to do the same thing. 

God's word is living and active. It is sharper than a two edged sword. It divides soul and spirit. It discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. That is why we must teach it, preach it, read it, study it, and learn from it. Through His word God saved Mary who was an outsider, a stranger to the faith, maybe even a little hostile toward God. It did not appear to Mary God had ever heard her prayers or done anything to help her. That all changed when He rescued her last Sunday afternoon. He died on the cross to purchase her salvation. She will never be the same again. 

We all rejoiced for her just like the angels in Heaven. Do it again Lord. Do it again and again. Save more Marys.