My wife and I both love old books. I’ve attached a picture of her latest treasures.
There is a mystery to old books and pamphlets that stirs my imagination. Where have they traveled? Who was the original owner and why did they purchase this book. What was the author’s life like? Was he or she a professional author or did God just lay this “burden” on their heart? So much can be wrapped up in the smallest of books.
Speaking of small books, our “new” book, “Our Daily Bread” is nothing like the current series of pamphlets with the same title. It’s at the top of the stack and the top of our list to read.
God, too, loves books. The sixty-six books of the Bible were separate scrolls, books unto themselves, that were inspired by the Holy Spirit. And, of course, there is the old Book of Life (Exod. 32:31-33), the book of people’s actions (Ps. 139:16), the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:27)) and, no doubt other books from God.
One of God’s books has always been special to me, since I discovered it in Malachi, the last book in our Old Testament. When I first read it, the words seemed to leap off of the page. It was during a time when I absolutely needed encouragement. Our church was going through a very challenging time, and I felt alienated, many were alienated. I’m probably saying too much. God used the experience to help us grow.
Anyway, there were other Christians in my life, and we encouraged each other while being careful to not disparage anyone or any action but to simply love each other. So, God blessed me with Malachi 3:16 (NIV), which says, “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.”
Are you going through a tough time? If so, find some other Christians and tell each other the good things God has done in your life. God is listening and, perhaps, He will write them in a scroll of remembrances as a testimony to your faithfulness for God loves books.