“Jesus came and told His disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)
Coming to Christ for salvation begins an amazing adventure! Knowing Jesus and making Him known is the all-encompassing passion of my life, and I pray, yours. Today I’d like for us to look at how that can work out in practical ways in our daily lives.
The priority of our lives must become prayer. Think of any meaningful relationship you have with family or friends. What if you never spoke with them? How important is a relationship in which there is no conversation or communication? So, naturally, any effective strategy to reach our loved ones and friends must begin with prayer. But how?
Each morning I literally pray around the world. I pray for every person on earth who is saved, especially those believers who are undergoing persecution or oppression from the enemy, either literally or figuratively. I also pray for every person who is lost, beginning with my family, then extending to friends, my literal neighbors, then others.
The reason I do that is to give the Spirit of God an opportunity to open my heart and mind to those in my spheres of influence whose lives I can personally touch. In considering how we can most effectively reach out to our family, friends, and neighbors we must consider a few things.
First, how deeply connected are we? Is our relationship such that I can easily and opening share what’s on my heart? Will those with whom I have a close relationship listen, or do I know from past efforts that they will likely “shut me down.” So, secondly, what alternatives do I have?
Our most valuable resource to reach lost people is God’s Holy Spirit. He can speak in ways that we never can, but He can also speak to us, giving us alternative avenues to reach out. One such avenue He’s showing me is the written word. Almost no one writes letters anymore, other than in texts or emails. What if you sent a hand-written or typed letter explaining how much you love the lost person the Lord lays on your heart, and in simple, but Scripturally based words, let them know the way to open their hearts and lives to Jesus? (I mention “typed” because my handwriting is so bad, I can hardly read it)
Another option the Lord is causing me to ponder is going door to door in my neighborhood and speaking with anyone who will allow me a few minutes. Or, writing them a personal note and hand-delivering it. I’m haunted by Ray Comfort’s timely words: “If you are not concerned about your neighbor’s salvation, then I am concerned for yours.” The reality of the closeness of Jesus’ return is also building the proverbial “fire” under me.
The bottom line here is this: If I don’t have a heart, especially for those in whose lives I have access, I must not have the heart of the Father who gave His only Son out of love for the lost. Fellow Jesus lovers and followers, time is short! We must be sharing the Truth of who Jesus is and what a wonderful gift He’s given us, with whomever will listen. We’ve got to get our minds off of what people will think of us and turn our attention onto where they’re going to spend eternity without Jesus.
I’m alive in Christ because He laid on someone’s heart to share His love and life with me, and they were obedient. Who is He laying on your heart with whom you can share His words of eternal life?
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 