One of the biggest barriers to sharing the love of Jesus is getting started. For a variety of reasons the first step is the hardest. The first step is really easy to take. It requires that you do two simple things:
- Identify: Find someone to love for Jesus' sake. Jesus found a woman at a well, somewhere she went every day. He found a tax collector in a tree while He was out for a walk. Where will you find someone?
- In their yard, in your neighborhood?
- On a walk of your own?
- At a park?
- At a concert in the park?
- At the farmer's market?
- At a sporting event of your choice?
- While doing a service project or a kindness project with the church?
- At work?
- Online?
- At a restaurant, serving you?
- Initiate: Once you find someone, what will you do? Jesus asked the woman for water. He invited himself over for dinner at the home of Zaccheus. He did not pass them by. Instead he took intiative. Bill Hybels suggests taking the simplest level of initiative in the title of his recent book Just Walk Across the Room. It won't matter if you identify people to love in Jesus' name, if you don't do anything. What should you do? Try these:
- Pray. Pray. Pray.
- Ask questions (see tomorrow's post).
- Invite to coffee.
- Offer help.
- Ask for help.
- Introduce yourself.
- Pray. Pray. Pray.
2 comments:
You may think that you don't have time to initiate conversations with people, but if you pray about opportunities God will provide them. You might be surprised at how easy He will present opportunities to not "waste your summer."
I am a busy mom of four who, as many of you are doing, prayed for opportunities to show God's love. Guess what, He did just that and I didn't even have to leave my own yard. How? you ask. Well He moved a new neighbor right next door who loves to come and work in my yard. Yes, work in MY yard. It is kind of funny to have her doing so much in my yard, but we have been able to work side by side as I get to know her and listen to her stories about her. I have not had a conversation about faith in bold words, but she knows we attend church and I use simple Christian words in our conversations, as they seem appropriate. We just live out our lives along side of each other and she can see by example that we are different. She has made many comments about my kids. She can tell that we are different than most people.
There is a lot more to this story, but my point is that God will provide you with the opportunities to share the "Good News" if you will just ask Him to.
Who knows, you may not have to leave your yard either:-)
Oh, and the book Scott mentioned, "Just Walk Across the Room" is a great and easy read. It is full of easy to implement techniques, if you will, of how to show the love of God through being a friend- and then waiting on God to present the right moment to have a conversation about Him.
Melange,
First of all, how cool is it that he works in YOUR yard. Maybe he needs to move next door to me!
Thanks for the reminder that it doesn't have to be complicated and God is in charge.
I'd love to hear other stories of how God is at work from other people.
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