Here’s the power of that Bible sitting in a hotel room (true story):
In a small Indiana town, a small group of local Gideons met on a Saturday morning to share breakfast and pray, prior to visiting local motels and distributing Bibles in them. The Gideon in charge of the distribution went to a local motel, where he knew there weren’t any Bibles in their rooms. The owner, a lady, was there, and she turned down his request to put a Bible in each room. He thanked her and left.
The next Saturday, he was driving into town, saw the motel, and stopped by to see if the owner had reconsidered. Again, she said no. He thanked her and left.
The following Saturday the Gideon was home doing chores. He heard God telling him to go to town. Repeatedly. And with no further instructions than “Go to town,” he stopped doing his chores and drove into town. Doing so, he came upon the motel, and knew that is why he was there. So he presented himself to the owner, once again. And she replied, “You’re pretty persistent, aren’t you? Tell you what: I have 33 rooms here. If you can put a Bible in each one of them, right now, then OK.” He went to the trunk of his car, and found he had exactly 33 Bibles, which he placed in her motel rooms. That was Saturday morning.
Sunday evening a lady checked into the motel, with the help of the desk clerk.
Monday morning the lady approached the desk clerk, carrying something in each hand. She put her pistol on the counter (and had the desk clerk’s full attention). In her other hand she had the newly placed Gideon Bible from the motel room. She told the desk clerk, “You can have the pistol. I’m keeping the Bible. I came here last night to kill myself. But I was drawn to the nightstand in the room, where I found this Bible. I spent the entire night reading this Bible, and have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I don’t need the pistol anymore.”
Turns out the lady with the pistol was the sister of the owner of the motel.
God’s Word never returns void.
Monday morning,
At my local church, we place bibles in some of the seats and our pastor almost always makes mention that they are there for anyone who doesn't have one. My wife and I contributed to purchase them. Don't know how many have walked off.(hopefully many) Need to ask my pastor if they need more.
Powerful!