People are a great passion of mine because they integrate Unconditional Love and encouragement into the performance of the second commandment.
This of course is only possible if the first commandment is in place. It's also only possible on a broad scale if "the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
God showing His Love for us teaches us how valuable we are to Him but also teaches us how others are valuable to us.
God did not call everyone to be a missionary in a foreign land somewhere, but He did call everyone to be a "local evangelist" where they are. Here!
How do we do that?
We don't know what to say?
What if they are offended?
All those questions are answered by one word: Love.
So you don't know the Romans Road........
So you don't do good with eye to eye..........
So you are self conscious and afraid........
Still the answer is Love. Period!
You do what you Love naturally. Nothing is easier than speaking about what you Love.
Hey, men do it! Ask any sports fan about their favorite team. I bet they can name every player and all their accomplishments. Why? Because of Love of the sport.
I'm a shooter. I enjoy hunting, guns, and ammo. Ask me a question and I will have an opinion there.
I have other hobbies that I enjoy such as curing meats. Ask me about aged, cured salami! In fact ask any of my friends about our meats. They will tell you that there is a certain joy that comes from the making and eating of them, as they have done both.
What we Love we seem to naturally incline to that subject once breached. Our eyes shine, our countenance lightens, and our speech is free and unfettered.
Why? Because of love of the subject.
Why not the Gospel? Why not "our story." Why not a natural progression into the needs of the one we are in front of?
Should we dare to encourage hope? Appreciation? Value? To someone that is in front of us working for minimum wage long hours in a get no place job. Others casting remarks, and ridiculing them for something that isn't their fault?
Lets not forget that the Gospel actually means "Good News". Good News of salvation and also the "Good News" of Unconditional Love.
Where most Christians go wrong is in thinking that "salvation" means only that we are saved by the "blood of Jesus."
WRONG! Wrong, Wrong!
Salvation includes: forgiveness of sins, a heavenly home, healing, deliverance, and all the precious promises of God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. It is a total restoration of our ability to fellowship, worship, and know our Father. Salvation represents all that God has pre-set for us in Jesus Christ to receive as sons through Him. Salvation means that we can once again personally "walk with God." Our garden (like Adam) is our spiritual reunion with our Father in Heaven to "become one" with Him through Jesus Christ. Continually, through out the day and in the night watches.
As in the "beginning" God and man, Creator and created.
How do we get that across to the "person in our path?"
Love, Joy and the Peace of the Holy Spirit. This kind of countenance prepares the way for us to be "effective" witnesses to others around us. Joy is in our actions and eyes. You have seen it before.
When someone is joyful it is very obvious when you first lay eyes on them. Right? You don't fear that kind of person and you even feel yourself drawn to them.
Why are they like that? Would they care about me? Just seeing them makes me feel good!
So why not use that? How about a smile and "hey how you doing?" What about: "what a great day?" That opens the door to become "in contact" or break the ice to bestow verbal blessings on them and encouraging them. God may even open the door to the real "Good News" because "you care" enough to say something.
Don't forget you don't have to close "every deal"! Some plant, some water, but God makes it grow. Don't think you are the only sower or waterer in the field. God always has a follow up plan which includes other believers to complete the process. You are not working on your own. I think sometimes churches try to push ahead of the Holy Spirit in their teaching about witnessing and thereby derail God's plan in the life of the individual hearing the "Good News." If God is all wise (which He is) then He knows their lives as a story already told and He has the payment Jesus made for them ready to "save" them in "their time." We forget that we had to be sinners a long time before many of us were saved. Salvation didn't come to late for us. Well if God hadn't changed (and He never changes) then He will be just on time for them. Work with God by being prepared in season and out to present the "Gospel of Good News" to others and let the rest in God's redeeming hands.
I bet in many situations the first "seeds" scattered in the "fields of he hearts" is attitude about what others perceive we think of them before anything comes out of our lips. Then our "countenance" reflects our intentions. A smile and a joyful appearance will open up more doors to the needy heart then a scowl and rough verbiage.
I believe we win the right to be a witness. When someone sees they are valuable to you they "listen" to what you have to say. Sometimes being effective in witnessing is a form of pride and we all know that goes before a fall. I prefer to trust God for whatever success I have in "witnessing" the Gospel vs. having a book of numbers and names. Cults do that because they have no faith and believe that they have to prove to God what they have done.
God is Love and He gave His only Son, in Love that "none may perish". I believe if we Love the Word of God more than anything in our lives then "living the Gospel of Good News" will be as natural as breathing when it comes to others. Then whatever part of witnessing that is successful will bear all the fruits associated with salvation in the lives of others, eternal life, healing, deliverance, and whatever else is needed promised in Christ for all His that are coming into the fold.
Love Him, Worship Him, Praise Him, and bear witness to Him by the Holy Spirit, then all will be "well with your soul" and you will not be fruitless in showing God's Unconditional Love throughout all the Earth.
Love
J&E in Tn
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