I was driving home from a Revival Meeting, Thursday of last week I believe. My route carried me through the pretty little City of Rome, Georgia. And in Rome there is a quaint little used bookstore, Dogwood Books by name. I decided to invest ten or fifteen minutes in that little “gold mine” of Bible truth. They have an unusually good selection of theological, Christian material.
I just mentioned to the owner that I was looking for material on the whole armour of God, Ephesians 6, and he immediately suggested William Gurnall on the subject, a classic indeed. I realized at that moment this man knew his books, Bible related anyway!
Oh, traffic is always busy in downtown Rome, particularly in the City Square, where Dogwood is located. But that day I found a parking place immediately in front of the store! I made this photo looking through my front windshield! If you look carefully you can even see my GPS attached in its place. I decided right then I was “on track!” Never have I been able to park that close!
Today’s Bible Lesson …
I personally count many such sweet conveniences as blessings from the Lord. Parking places, kind words, often letters or texts or emails, a Preacher calling wanting to schedule a Revival!
“Open doors,” Paul might have termed them!
Yes, the bookstore that day was an “open door,” though I only bought 2 little books, but both have proved precious in my study of the Word of God!
There have been times when, at Dogwood, I sat and perused a book before investing any money in it. They have several places in the store to do this. Mine is upstairs, right by the religious section. Good bookstores always encourage this!
But more importantly now … Jesus believes in “open doors,” too! He said to the Church at Philadelphia: “Behold, I have set before thee an OPEN DOOR,” Revelation 3:8.
The very reason I’m writing on this theme today, Christmas Eve, is that many an open door will be placed before us in the next day or two.
Time with loved ones!
Time to tell the Story of Jesus!
Time to love a person who may not even be here next year!
Time to go to Church and sing the beautiful Carols about our Saviour!
Time to handle some little problem, in a Christlike way!
All … open doors!
Oh, friends … let us use them wisely!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
And, by the way, from Debbie and me to you all … MERRY CHRISTMAS!