Subscription Lists

From the beginning I will be honest that this is an area in life that I truly struggle with. Even at the time of this writing, I was thinking of how I can steadily improve in this area. Unfortunately I believe that many Christians struggle in their “evangelism” techniques. If I’m modeling the apostle Paul in this area of Christian service I have a lot to strive for. Paul set the bar extraordinarily high it seems when it came to witnessing in the name of Christ at all costs. However, think about when you receive good news don’t you want to share it. When you had your first child, or were getting married or got promoted on your job, didn’t you go run and tell your closest friend. Does your closest friend know of the gift of salvation? I have to admit, that at times I was ashamed of telling those closest to me about my faith. It seemed they wouldn’t accept me for who I was if I did. And if we are honest with ourselves that is what ultimately keeps us from sharing—rejection. What is it with humans and rejection? Although we all fear rejection and hate when it happens it is as much a part of life as death and birth. For example, go to McD’s after 10 in the morning and ask for an order of hotcakes and sausage and see what they say. It will go something like this, “I’m sorry sir, we finished serving breakfast at 10AM.” And no matter how hard you pout and plead, you won’t get any flapjacks. Now you’ve just been rejected, what are your choices? Let’s see, you could protest and decide that you’ll never again eat breakfast because you’ve been rejected. Or you can persist in your plight to find breakfast by going to another restaurant or you can order something else if you are really hungry. The average person would just order something else. So what is the parallel you ask? We should be hungry to provide a dying ______ (you fill in the blank) with the gift of salvation. Many of us know friends, relatives, associates, co-workers, etc. that need Christ in their lives to straighten up their situations. But we see them day after day and week after week and withhold from them the solution. We must persist to provide them with the answer they need and that we should want to give them—get to know Jesus Christ. And when we are rejected, move on to the next person. If you read through the book of Acts, when Paul was rejected by one group of people he moved on to the next. Christ has never instructed us to try to put a square peg in a round hole (pardon the cliché), but he did instruct us to preach the gospel to every lost soul (see Matthew 28:19-20). And if they reject us, “shake the dust” from our feet and move on (see Matthew 10:14). So, let’s leave our comfort zone and talk to someone about including Christ into their daily routine. The next time your friend complains about their job, marriage, or children ask them if they would join you in prayer about a solution. Most people won’t turn down this suggestion which gives you a great opportunity to share how Christ has made a difference in your life.

Lord I ask for forgiveness in the areas of my life where I am still so lazy and slowful. I understand your command to spread the good news to every lost soul. Please give me the courage to do just that, even though I may not be accepted by those that love me. Give me the strength to make my goal to please you and bring glory to your name.

Amen

Suggested readings: Matthew 28:18-20; John 21:15-17; Acts 13:44-14:7

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Not Many Wise