A missionary traveling in Brazil had sold some Bibles and Testaments in a little town in the interior of the country. However, where the Spirit of God is active, there also Satan busies himself; and a short time later an order was given that those in authority should collect all Bibles and Testaments and burn them in the town square.
There was a strong wind that evening; and as the flames still rose over the pile of burning books, a half-consumed leaf was caught by the breeze and carried away over the roofs and into an open window. Then it drifted to the feet of a woman sitting there. Printed matter is not as common in those out-of-the-way parts of Brazil, as it is with us, so she eagerly picked it up and began to read.
"That must come from a good book," she said to herself, "for I see the names of God and of Jesus.”
She was right, for the leaf was a part of the third chapter of John's Gospel. She was totally ignorant of the grace of God to a sinner, so it was with amazement she read: "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." And another complete verse, "He that believeth in Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
She put the partly charred leaflet aside to show it to her husband when he came home from work. He too was interested, and the oftener they read the verses on their one page, the more they longed to possess the whole book from which it came.
About a year later the missionary passed that way again, and called at this house with his Bibles and Testaments.
"No, thank you, we don't want your books," they said, "but we would like to have the book from which this half-burnt leaf came." And they showed him the piece of paper they had so carefully preserved.
With joy he recognized the page. Opening a Testament at the third chapter of John, he showed them that it was the very book they wanted. They bought it at once and began to study it carefully.
There was no preacher of the Gospel in that neighborhood, but God wrought by His Word alone in the souls of these people, and by His Spirit, to lead them to a knowledge of Himself and of His Son. The man and his wife were converted, and soon began to spread the news of salvation among their neighbors.
May we not trace the hand of God in that gust of wind which carried the half-burnt leaf of the Gospel and laid it at that woman’s feet?
"My word shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Dear reader, in whatever way these words come to you today, be assured it is not by chance. God can use the smallest as well as the greatest means to reach men's hearts and make known His love. "For God willeth not the death of the sinner," but "will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
The Psalmist speaks truly when he says:
"The entrance of Thy word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple.”