* An older man entering a building holds the door for a young woman following him. She stops and says angrily, “Sir you do not have to hold that door for me because I am a woman!” He says, “Ma'am, I am not, I am holding it open for you because I am a gentleman.”
* At a dinner for the elite, a man passes a note asking if the beautiful woman across from him would sleep with him for $100,000. She smiles and says yes. He passes another note asking if she would do it for $50! Upset she retorts back – “Sir what kind of woman do you think I am?” The man says – “we established that with the first question...now we are negotiating price!
What you are comes out in your actions. If we are children of God and know we possess eternal life, the best thing we can do during a time such as this is to encourage our friends to be ready for whatever may happen. We know the reality of salvation and should gently seek ways to help those we know have the same confidence.
Here is how we do that:
1. Examine yourself.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.
When you know who you are and what you believe, you are not selling something! You can share about your Lord naturally, gently and hoping only to give light to someone. The decision remains theirs!
2. Walk and Talk what God has made you to those you know.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
3. Stretch to reach those that you see…outside the comfort zone
1 Corinthians 9:19–23 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people…I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. I do all these things because of the gospel so that I can be a participant in it.
This is not talking about becoming a “fake.” Scripture tells us that we must be sensitive to everyone. In doing so we communicate with no agenda, just because we care. So whether they accept or reject, it is not about us.
4. Have the vision to see that God can use you to impact the whole world. Being a part of something so much bigger than yourself.
Jesus gave this message to a handful of individuals – who changed the world!
The so what: Consider this – John Geddie went from Canada to Aneiteum and shared the love of Christ to all that would listen. John died in 1872. The people he had gone to placed a tablet in his memory. It said this; "When he landed in 1848, there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen."
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