Spreading the Word

And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. ~ Mark 16:15

Today, as I was going through my e-mails, I stumbled across one that, at first, I thought was a spam message that had infiltrated through my virus program and settled in my in box.  As I looked to delete it, something drew me back to the message.  It was from a new pastor in South Africa, requesting old Bibles of any types, any religious works written by men of God, and study materials that might further his ministry in Africa.  

My initial reaction to delete the message was slowed at this point as I further scanned this message for any link that may have been placed into the message to "click" on and send a virus through my computer.  There was none.  I began to think that this young pastor may have gotten my e-mail through a book I had ordered a few months ago from South Africa, written by Retha and Aldo McPherson about Aldo's experience in heaven after a terrible accident.  This may be a completely "on the level" request from a young pastor desperate to begin his new ministry with as much religious materials as he can lay his hands on. 

I am by no means telling people to open e-mails from people they do not know, but I am saying to be careful not to write off all random e-mails as virus carriers.  There are occasions that these e-mails are messages sent by people of God looking for help from around the world to advance God's word in their part of the world that we cannot reach ourselves.  God may be opening a door here for us to look at what we have and no longer use to be used anew in another area of the world to advance His kingdom.  

What resources have you used and no longer use as study materials to grow closer to God?  Where can they be used again to remain useful to others?   It may be time to "clean house" and put those religious materials to good use where they are needed most.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the many resources You have provided to us to learn more about You and to grow stronger in our faith in You.  May we share these resources with others when they have outgrown their usefulness to us so that others may experience You in their growing faith as well.  Amen.