I've realized recently that the majority of my "work" here on Earth will not be measured in millions or even thousands... but ones- maybe tens. To know that is sobering. But to know that my work (albeit in the tens) is of God, and that anything different would be man made... well, that's something to rejoice in. Because...
God plus anything (seemingly bad) is better than anything (seemingly GOOD) without God.
And the fact that I'm OK with all of this is, well, God. You see- for the longest time I thought I was going to "be somebody". You know the deal. I was going to be famous. Or KNOWN. Whether it was public speaking, or writing, or TV... I was going to be a name that brought with it respect and acknowledgement. (Or was I??)
Any thoughts I had regarding acknowledgement and fame were clearly MINE. I don't see anywhere in the Word where God tells me that He gives me gifts and talents to draw people unto MYSELF. He loves me more than to allow me a platform without A purpose. HIS purpose.
And so now I find that my platform may well be my blog- the people I reach may well be in the TENS (Boo Mama came up with this term first... I just like it so much I've regurgitated it to meet my needs) and in an interesting turn of events, I find I have not only church going but non church going friends in my little circle and well...IT'S ABOUT TIME.
But I will admit to being unsure as to how to proceed some of the times.
An honest question, how many of you have people in your life that need to hear about Jesus? I don't mean a friend of a friend. Or even the post man or the neighborhood dry cleaner. (Not that they can't and or may not need to hear about Jesus....) I just mean, in your close personal space, in your sphere of influence, amongst the people you call "friends"... how many need to hear the Truth of Jesus?
Because up until last fall... I'm not quite sure there was one person in my life consistently- that needed to hear about Jesus. All my friends were "saved" (for lack of a better term throughout this blog)
My closest friends all stem from church activities, small groups, church picnics and bible studies. These friends serve to encourage, listen, share, enlighten, admonish, hold me accountable and love me. I can have some of the deepest, most meaningful conversations with them as well as some of the most pointless and meaningless.
But never do I ever feel the need to tell them about what drives me, what moves me, what inspires me and/or what captivates me... because they already know. The same drives, moves, inspires and captivates them... AND I LOVE IT.
BUT- it's not quite the Great Commission at it's best is it?
And in this new place that I've come to find myself... with new friends that may or may not know the person of Jesus Christ... I wonder if it's only NOW that I am finally where God wants me.
What possibility do I have to share the Love and Truth of God with others if I'm only around those that ALREADY know it?
God plus anything (seemingly bad) is better than anything (seemingly GOOD) without God.
And the fact that I'm OK with all of this is, well, God. You see- for the longest time I thought I was going to "be somebody". You know the deal. I was going to be famous. Or KNOWN. Whether it was public speaking, or writing, or TV... I was going to be a name that brought with it respect and acknowledgement. (Or was I??)
Any thoughts I had regarding acknowledgement and fame were clearly MINE. I don't see anywhere in the Word where God tells me that He gives me gifts and talents to draw people unto MYSELF. He loves me more than to allow me a platform without A purpose. HIS purpose.
And so now I find that my platform may well be my blog- the people I reach may well be in the TENS (Boo Mama came up with this term first... I just like it so much I've regurgitated it to meet my needs) and in an interesting turn of events, I find I have not only church going but non church going friends in my little circle and well...IT'S ABOUT TIME.
But I will admit to being unsure as to how to proceed some of the times.
An honest question, how many of you have people in your life that need to hear about Jesus? I don't mean a friend of a friend. Or even the post man or the neighborhood dry cleaner. (Not that they can't and or may not need to hear about Jesus....) I just mean, in your close personal space, in your sphere of influence, amongst the people you call "friends"... how many need to hear the Truth of Jesus?
Because up until last fall... I'm not quite sure there was one person in my life consistently- that needed to hear about Jesus. All my friends were "saved" (for lack of a better term throughout this blog)
My closest friends all stem from church activities, small groups, church picnics and bible studies. These friends serve to encourage, listen, share, enlighten, admonish, hold me accountable and love me. I can have some of the deepest, most meaningful conversations with them as well as some of the most pointless and meaningless.
But never do I ever feel the need to tell them about what drives me, what moves me, what inspires me and/or what captivates me... because they already know. The same drives, moves, inspires and captivates them... AND I LOVE IT.
BUT- it's not quite the Great Commission at it's best is it?
And in this new place that I've come to find myself... with new friends that may or may not know the person of Jesus Christ... I wonder if it's only NOW that I am finally where God wants me.
What possibility do I have to share the Love and Truth of God with others if I'm only around those that ALREADY know it?
7 comments:
I don't have anyone in my family or close friends that needs to hear, but I have been able to share with a few residents and co-workers.
Good post - I need to expand my harvest field!
Keep pressing on.
Hello!
My name is Jodie Wolfe. I am in the process of researching for a book I would like to write that addresses ten struggles that Christian women face. I would love to have your input as well. You can respond via email or my blog: http://diggingforpearls@blogspot.com
Thank you for any help you can give me. All I need is the list of ten things as well as your age.
I don't speak about Christ as much as I should to the unsaved. I feel so out of touch right now with my job schedule. I am praying that God will change that schedule someday.
You do encourage me through your posts
We are in a study now called "The way of the Master". It speaks about sharing Christ. Did you know that only 15% of Christians share Christ? It is crazy!
Yet, I still struggle with telling my family and strangers how much God loves them.
Stay in prayer, God will lead you where He wants you to be. He will be the voice, if you let Him!
Loves......
Hope you are feeling better!
Well,I think I have probably been around LOST people alot in my life, but I didn't SHARE JESUS with them. And I don't mean a presentation, I mean just daily conversation in a daily relationship. I didn't think my life could make that much difference to them.
Sometimes, I think Christians can make a wrong assumption that "everyone close to me is a Christian." One might want to think about that and not assume.
With that said, the Lord has given me and my husband a plan and a purpose far beyond anything we could have ever asked or imagined. As church planter missionaries, we can say that the only people we know who are Christians are the NEW CHRISTIANS in our church. Everyone else that we hang out with at school, work, community events, event planning committees etc. are assumed LOST. God has taught me to love the LOST and I enjoy them so much. I tremble at their future without Christ, but I have learned so much from them. If you need a little encouragement about sharing with LOST people, get some from me. I can tell you that I have never been spat upon, laughed at, or mocked for any truth that I have shared about my Jesus. I have been rejected and people have a way of distancing themselves, but I also have the satisfaction of having shared and I feel God's smile. You don't have to go to bars to find them. They are just regular people in knitting clubs, book clubs, working in the community. Many are great people, but they are lost. They have no one bigger than themselves to worship and their lives start and end with self. Most have a sense that there must be more. Anyway, right now, I am building a relationship with my newest hairdresser. God is working mightily and I expect her day of salvation very soon.
Sometimes we feel that we couldn't be all that different from a LOST person or that we can't make a difference. I am learning how very different we in Christ really are. And it goes beyond our speech and behavior which both go a long way in our display of His glory in our lives. It also is the peace, satisfaction, joy, PURPOSE and meaning that our lives have that make such an impression. If you win ONE to Christ, that ONE person can lead others. God has a great multiplication system. I have learned to just be available. The smallest things, mannerisms etc. make such an impression on the LOST. Mainly they will love you because you love them. God works so fast when you are available to be used in this particular way.
Enjoy the journey.
You hit it right on Chelle. I have NO ONE I am friends with right now that I am sharing Christ with. I have been thinking about this for some time. I just don't know how to find them! I just need to pray about it and let the Lord bring them to me. I work at church, go to a Christian hairdresser, etc.. I can't spend time at Jared's school because of work and Jenna. Great post, Chelle.
Thanks for the great post! I know I need to broaden my scope of live and get beyond my christian friends and seek the lost! Make myself available. Thanks for getting me thinking!
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