evangelism


It was late, I was tired, not to mention a little behind schedule, a little hungry, and err — a little lost.  Pulling over to get a map, I noticed a homeless man in the shadows.  Although a little nervous, I didn’t feel a nudge from God, nor see some divine flame in a bush, but instead just asked if he was hungry.  I then picked up some fast food and had dinner with him right there in the shadows.  I had his attention. 

The folks who’ve always held my attention have been those who’ve also inviting me to dinner or even as simple as baking me a batch of cookies.  Something creative yet showing care.  It’s simply human nature to be indebted to someone who blesses you through their love language.  A friend of mine operates a ministry in where they fix up donated cars and give them away to families in need.  But when that family sits in his office, trust me… he has their attention.  Break it down a bit and you’ll find that it’s really just salt.

People who followed Jesus weren’t primarily impressed by all the things He could do, but rather all the things that He did for them to show that He cared.  And then from there, he spoke His truth.  Feeding them, helping them, healing them.  Remeber the woman at the well?  He had their attention each time.  Not by works, but — gasp — by love.  It suddenly makes sense when Jesus said that we are the salt of the world (matthew 5:13)  This is why our evangelism often doesn’t go very far…. not because we’re not effective in our witness, but because we’re not showing them that we care enough to go the extra mile and love them beyond the casual.  Take someone’s trash out, wash a car, watch someone’s kids… You may not be able to bring a horse to water, but add a little salt to his oats, and sooner or later… he’ll be thirsty.

“whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two”
(Jesus — Matt 5:41)

23 thoughts on “evangelism”

  7. Anonymous says:

    It may not end up hurting that bad. 🙂
    Maybe it’ll just melt away eventually.
    Or you could go the route of just praying over it.
    I did that once, and it was gone in two days!

  12. Papi good stuff man. Love what you did. I miss those blessings to lol.. heheheh any who I finally got the job at Verizon today so I start now traingi for six weeks from 3 to 11:30 pm so mondays we are going to have to change our appointment talk. today is my last freeday so  xpect to hear from you. Any who Brother I love you man hope everything is going great for you. Love you brother and be blessed.

    Locy

  15. it’s so not fair. i ALWAYS want to do this for homeless people, but almost all of them in my city are men, and it’s just not something that is safe for me to do…especially at night…or in an alley. sigh…but i’m glad SOMEONE got to do it.

  16. there are–unfortunately because of the fall–many disadvantages to being a female. the main one in society is the threat of men. it is sad that something the Lord designed to be protected ends up being mistreated and abused. but that is just more proof of the fall. the earth, which he created to be beautiful and protected by us, ends up being abused (pollution, etc.) same with animals, children, and women.  I heard a sermon on this once…all things the Lord created to be beautiful and deserving of protection, will be abused by men. it is a curse of the fall. (don’t get me wrong here, i’m not saying women don’t have their share of issues from the fall.) but given all of this, i still wouldn’t trade being a woman for anything! it is so lovely, indeed. 

  17. I agree with Lisa. I would LOOOVE to pick up hitch hikers sometimes, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me as a woman. DANG!
    I like that line: “Add and little salt to it’s oats, and sooner or later…” I’ve been really sensing some urgancy to spred the gospel lately so I’ve been trying to be bolder in my witness…throw in a little Jesus here and there in my convos with people. I met a WHOLE group of Japanese students today. It was awesome!!! Intead of us going to them, why not catch THEM when they come to US. (Them=Foreign non-believers).

  18. yes! a secret FL alumni weekend in Tampa! cool cool. SWEAT is going, so it’s going to be really good. They’re all really jacked up and excited about it, and I am too! It’ll be a really good weekend! which sister is coming?

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