Christian, do you ask yourself what you’re doing here? Jesus put it plainly: “Preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mk 16:15) Obviously, “The one who wins souls is wise” (Prov 11:30).
I had just returned from a Bible conference in Japan and was leaving within the week for Scotland. No use recalibrating my body clock twice, so at midnight I went to work.
En route, I stopped at an all-night restaurant. My waitress asked, “What are you doing up?” I explained my travel schedule, to which she responded, “Are you a missionary?”
Surprised, I said, “Well, yes. What do you know about missionaries?”
“Nothing at all,” she replied. “My folks were so busy, we never attended church. But I’d love to learn about God and the Bible.” Since there was no one else in the place, I invited her to sit a while. As I told her about the Savior’s love in giving Himself for her, her eyes filled with tears. She’d never heard it before.
Soon others arrived and she got up to serve them. I said I’d bring her a Bible.
Two nights later, I was back, but Renée was busy elsewhere. Another young lady came to serve me. “Mr. Nicholson,” she began, “I have a question.” How did she know my name? “Renée and I had lunch yesterday. She told me everything you told her. So how do you know when to talk to someone about God?”
“Why do you ask?” I wondered out loud.
“Because you were here with your son a month ago and I served you. But you never talked to me about God.” I can still feel the arrow’s sting.
Here were two young ladies, raised in a city filled with churches, who’d never heard of God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and salvation’s amazing offer.
Have we overdone evangelism? Ask yourself: Who was the last person with whom I shared the gospel—or who shared the gospel with me? Has the church turned the Great Commission into the Great Omission? How can we change that?
1. We need to move from SELF-FOCUSED to CHRIST-FOCUSED and from FROZEN to FRIENDLY: The Number 1 reason Christians don’t witness? We’re afraid of being rejected. But we wouldn’t worry what people thought of us if we realized how little they did. What people think of you won’t matter a snap of the fingers; what they think of Christ determines their eternal destiny.
2. We need to move from PASSIVE to PRAYERFUL and from RANDOM to REGULAR: At first, it may seem awkward, but we aren’t called to do witnessing; we’re to be witnesses. Who do you desperately want to see saved? Do you have a top-ten prayer list?
Going out each morning ready to share the Good News will save you from unkind comments, political arguments, flirting, and selfish acts.
3. We need to move from CONFUSING to CLEAR and from DEAD ENDS to DIVINE APPOINTMENTS: You don’t have to make the gospel simple; just keep it simple. We need to be Spirit-filled, then Spirit-led. Even little sins get in the way. God doesn’t care about fancy vessels; He wants clean ones.
So start where you are, but don’t stay where you are. Ask God for a verse to share today and an opportunity to share it. Try it; you’ll like it!
Article by Jabe Nicholson first published in the Commercial Dispatch, Saturday, June 3, 2023.