The Gospel-
It’s meant to be lived out. That’s been my biggest conviction this week.
I’m just going to be real. Between books I’m required to read, homework in each of my classes, journal entries, required blogs, house dinners, on top of my normal 9-5, I wonder when will I have time to reach outside of community, and find those who need to learn about the Jesus I’m learning about?
Everyone I know here, knows about Jesus and are my brothers and sisters already. What about those who are my brothers and sisters and who just don’t know it yet?
You see, this week, I feel as though I’m feeling the burden that is ours as Christians, to be actively sharing our faith with others. My desire to reach out isn’t because of obligation, or pressure. I really just want to do it.
I’m taking those baby steps that say that I’m ready for things to maybe get a little uncomfortable. Because we’ve seemed to form this ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy about faith. Just be accepting of everyone. Don’t try to change someone’s mind.
Let me tell you though, I’m not interested in changing anyone’s mind. I’m just interested in introducing people to Jesus. He’ll do all the work. We have a great community here, and I’m not trying to pop anything, I’m just interested in expanding “the bubble.”
The reality is that we all should have a sphere of influence. We all should be having friendships with people outside of the body of the church. We should all be like Jesus who spent more time with people outside of the faith than He did with those inside. Fellowship should be a place where we fill up, to go back out. I believe that God has placed people in our lives for us to reach them. Sometimes, no one else is in that place, or has that influence, or has that “in” with your friend-group. You were placed there for a reason.
And then I realize, I don’t know a single non-Christian here. I’ve never worked in a Christian company before. I’ve always had ways of being around people who thought and acted differently than me. Working at a coffee shop, or playing on a hockey team. But here, I’m with believers all day. I live with believers. I eat dinner with believers.
So it’s a little bit harder to find people to share with, to find that sphere where I can naturally and organically share the goodness of Jesus. And I’m really not trying to imply making people “my projects”, but there is a reality that for more times than not, for the Gospel to spread we have to open our mouths and speak it.
So maybe that’s why I went to Dairy Queen the other day and made friends with the cashier there. Yeah, maybe it was a little weird that by the end of it, I was giving my phone number to a gal I just met, planning to get more ice cream with her on Saturday at the Mexican joint. Maybe that’s why I awkwardly try to meet my friend’s Hispanic neighbors in the trailer park. Sometimes, you just gotta get a little creative.
I pray that the people whom the Lord has prepared will come flowing into my life, showing up at my doorstep. I’m still going to keep praying for that. But I also just gotta go out there, and share where I feel the Spirit is moving.
Friends, brothers and sisters. This is our holy burden. This is what Jesus called us to. This should be implanted in every Christ followers heart. We have to be good stewards of what has been given to us. Too whom much is given, much is required. We are rich, friends, we are rich. It’s time to start giving it out. It’s not okay to keep it all to ourselves.
We have to start making time for it, we have to make it a habit in our lives. Did you know, that how we live our days, is how we live our lives? I want a life of sharing Jesus.
