So I went to Philly this weekend with my family.
My cousin Katie is 8 months pregnant and her sisters Jen and Laura were throwing her a baby shower. I love these girls. Many people don't understand the connection I have with them..... they simply look at them as cousins but I look at them as sisters and friends. We have been there for each other since we were toddlers. Our moms are really close and so naturally we spent a lot of time together thru the years. Two of them are married and two of them are getting ready to have their first child. It has been fun walking thru these stages with them and watching them change and begin new lives with their husbands.....
Well, I had an amazing conversation with Jim while I was in Philly. A conversation that challenged me to share my faith with a boldness and a compassion that I hadn't been asked to do before. Recently, I have been praying for God to give me situations and opportunities to share my faith and Jesus with others, especially my family. I have asked for wisdom and boldness and courage to speak the truth about Christ and the salvation He offers. As I sat with Jim on the couch, he began to ask me about why I don't drink. I shared with him my responses and before I realized it, three hours had passed!
I asked Jim if he had a relationship with Jesus.... He looked at me and pointed to a gold cross he wears around his neck. I asked him what that meant to him.... he didn't understand. I asked Jim to share with me what that cross meant to him and encouraged him to share with me why he wore it and who Jesus was to him. He paused for a few seconds then shared with me that his religion and his faith was very private. It defined who he was but he didn't feel comfortable sharing it with others. The story was his and he wanted to keep it that way. We talked for a few more minutes and then I shared with him my story.....
I shared with him who Jesus was to me and why it was I fell in love in Him. I explained what Church and ministry and a relationship was. I explained the difference between knowing of Jesus and needing Jesus. I wanted so bad for Jimmy to be challenged and encouraged to share his faith. I celebrated his story, even though I don't know what it is, and reminded him that our God is a real and personal God who loves and cares for ALL of his people!
Friends, if we are believers in Jesus and truly love him then why are we silent? Why do we sit back and keep our story to ourselves? If God can change our life, then He can change other's too. It's not a faith meant to keep quiet. It's not a faith that is meant to be displayed with a cross necklace. Its a faith that is meant to be lived in your life..... everyday! Its a faith that is meant to shape you and become a part of your being! Its a love and a relationship that if you allow it, will grip ahold of you and love and care for you like you have never imagined!
Jimmy said that there were two things he never talked about with other people.... religion and politics. My heart broke for him. There are two things that I always want to talk about... Jesus and Salvation! I do not want to walk away from any situation having overlooked an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. Never.
I prayed for Jimmy that night. I will keep praying for Jimmy. I will pray for opportunities to share my faith with him. I hope that my conversation with him challenged him and I pray that even now, days later, he is thinking about it. I pray that God will place other people in his life, that love and share my joy for the Lord and that they will have the Wisdom and Boldness and Love to share Jesus with him too.
I have been replaying that conversation in my head over and over.
I keep thinking and wondering if I could have done anything different to make Jim see what it is he is missing.
God reminds me that Jim's salvation is not my responsibility.
The choice of salvation is Jim's.
I am responsible for sharing Jesus
I am responsible for telling Jim about Jesus and Jesus' love for him
I can find rest in that
I can find peace in knowing that.....
Be challeneged today to share Jesus with others. As often and as frequently as possible.
Pray for opportunities to tell someone of the Jesus who has your heart.
Tell them of a Jesus who loves them so much, exactly as a they are today. Right now!
Tell them of a Jesus who died on a cross who bled and wept for each of us.
Tell them of a Jesus who rose from the dead three days later and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
Tell them of salvation and grace and forgivenss.....
The decision to accept is theirs.
