Bible Tracts, Inc. - Director's Notes

Recent Letters

"A warm greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I received last week the tracts that I have requested and by God's grace we started distribution already in one public high school. The materials are great tools in our ministry of spreading the gospel here."

Philippines

"Just a note to let you know that we are praying for you and thank God for your ministry. We understand that you have had some problems in getting funds to send tracts and we want you to know that we understand and we are praying for you. Currently, there are 8 works that are using these tracts with over 20 to 30 people being saved per week because of the open door that we receive when we give out tracts."

Mexico

"Thank you for the excellent tracts, and the teaching, and encouragement each morning on the radio. You've asked for ways people are using to distribute tracts. One way we are able to use them is to enclose an appropriate tract when we send donations. For example, the "We're Grateful" tract in a contribution envelope to a Veteran's organization. Isn't it great to see how the Lord uses us to use tracts!"

Wisconsin

"While I was incarcerated, there was a local Baptist Church that would come and minister to the inmates weekly. They distributed to us Bibles as well as materials from Bible Tracts. Since I have been released from jail I have continued to study the Bible and live a drug-free and crime-free life. I have also been attending church. Receiving Christ's message while being behind bars changed the way I now live after transitioning back into society. My faith is renewed and God is working in me."

Washington

In 1913 this ad was posted for volunteers to explore the continent of Antarctica.

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success."

Ernest Shackleton posted that ad looking to fill twenty-six slots. How many applications did he get? MORE THAN 5,000!

Why did so many people want to go? Simple. His offer struck a chord in the hearts of men. There have been and always will be people – saved and lost – who are looking for a challenge, an adventure, which requires sacrifice but offers greatness.

Is desiring to be great for God sinful? Some would say it is, but not Jesus. He was looking for disciples who sought to do great things for God's glory. He told His disciples, "Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister" (Mark 10:43). He also said, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:4).

We have all chastised the sons of Zebedee (Mark 10) for asking Jesus to give them the prominent seats in glory. Our condemnation is justified due to the motive of the brothers' hearts. But don't forget that in verse 40 Jesus said that some people would be given prominence in glory. It cannot be wrong to desire crowns and glory in heaven, if again, they are sought for Christ's glory.

In John 21 we find one question asked three times. "Simon (not Peter), do you love me?" Oh, how many sermons have been preached on these three questions. Our problem comes when we stop and camp on the questions and then fail to get to the reason Jesus asked them.

Peter was to be given an assignment. This assignment could not be done in his own flesh – as Simon. It required a whole new man, a man empowered by the Holy Spirit. It required "a Peter".

The assignment? Peter was asked to surrender his life and endure a hard death all so he could feed God's sheep (21:18-19). The questioning of Peter's love was not a soft, velvet-covered sentimentality. It was a call to an inner quality of strength needed for him to face the adventure ahead.

I hope you know the chorus, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus". One verse says, "Though none go with me, still I will follow". The writer of those words found that challenge in Jesus' words to Peter.

After receiving his assignment, Peter looks at the Apostle John and asks, "What shall this man do?" How like us Peter is. Jesus gives him a hard task, full of challenge and danger, but a task that comes with eternal glory, and Peter immediately wants to compare his assignment with others.

How does Jesus respond? Well, putting Jesus' words into Mark Smith terms, Jesus said – "Don't worry about John, you just follow Me!"

I love that word "exploits". It is found in Daniel 11:32 which says, "But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." The Hebrew word from which it is translated is not uncommon; it is very common. It simply means "to do or to accomplish". It has a wide range of use, but it comes down to actually doing something.

What are you and I DOING for Christ? The exploit God has for some is very grand and requires the up-rooting of lives to go to some unknown place and feed His sheep.

For others, God's exploit is to maintain a consistent life testimony in front of those who have known them all their lives. These folk are often called upon to remain honest in what may be mundane employment. Their paycheck comes from work that offers no real sense of fulfillment, but it does provide them the finances to make God's work happen around the world.

Whatever your "exploit" may be, you have but two basic assignments. They are the same two given to Peter: .

So, who are you feeding? Before Peter could feed sheep, he had to find them. He had to go seek lost people, challenge them to surrender their lives to a risen Savior, and then he could feed them.

Are you and I finding lost sheep to feed or are we content to stay inside the sheepfold and teach the sheep others have found? To find lost sheep requires an honest answer to the question – "Do you love Me?"