In the past few years we have noticed more than ever before that the most effective way to reach people is with the daily example of one's life. You can ask people to study with you again and again and seldom get a positive response. The only times we have had people ask us about our religion was after they had dealt with us on a regular basis and watched how we live, both in good times and under stress.
So I have come up with something that ought to have been obvious years ago. Let's just say I am a slow learner. It's a question I should ask myself before I have any sort of dealings with someone who is not a Christian. "After they see my actions and hear my words, especially in a touchy situation, could I turn around and invite them to church or would they laugh in my face?" Actually, another question that might accomplish the same thing is, "Is a person's soul worth the inconvenience they have caused me, or the aggravation that has come into my life because of them?" Anyone who doesn't know the answer to that has no idea what the Lord has given up for him.
So they got in your way in the grocery aisle and took forever to figure out which brand of ketchup to buy. Is that person's soul worth the few minutes it cost me, or will ramming their cart and telling them to get out of the way actually make them think well enough of me to ask where I go to church? So they cut me off in traffic. Is that person's soul worth gracefully allowing them to take not only my place in the lane but the whole road if they want it? So the waitress is slow and the cook not much quicker and she didn't get the order quite right. Is her soul worth the inconvenience of waiting those few extra minutes and saying thank you when the order finally gets to you? I guarantee you that a pleasant person will be an unusual occurrence in her day, maybe unusual enough for her to pick up the tract you left on the table with the tip and actually read it. But would you have ever had that chance if you had ranted and raved like everyone else? If how I act makes me ashamed to invite someone to our assemblies, surely I can see past my rationalizations exactly how badly my behavior reflects on the Lord and his body. And if I find myself muttering, "He doesn't deserve my patience," that should be a smack in the face about God's grace toward me and how much I did not deserve that either.
If you don't already, start training yourself to think before you speak, especially when things are unfair or wind up costing you time or even money. It may not make a difference; in fact, it will seldom make a difference, but isn't a person's soul worth taking that chance? If I have transformed myself to be like the Son of God instead of everyone else, I shouldn't even need to ask myself that question
And if any man would go to law with you, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow turn not away (Matt 5:40-42.
Dene Ward
So I have come up with something that ought to have been obvious years ago. Let's just say I am a slow learner. It's a question I should ask myself before I have any sort of dealings with someone who is not a Christian. "After they see my actions and hear my words, especially in a touchy situation, could I turn around and invite them to church or would they laugh in my face?" Actually, another question that might accomplish the same thing is, "Is a person's soul worth the inconvenience they have caused me, or the aggravation that has come into my life because of them?" Anyone who doesn't know the answer to that has no idea what the Lord has given up for him.
So they got in your way in the grocery aisle and took forever to figure out which brand of ketchup to buy. Is that person's soul worth the few minutes it cost me, or will ramming their cart and telling them to get out of the way actually make them think well enough of me to ask where I go to church? So they cut me off in traffic. Is that person's soul worth gracefully allowing them to take not only my place in the lane but the whole road if they want it? So the waitress is slow and the cook not much quicker and she didn't get the order quite right. Is her soul worth the inconvenience of waiting those few extra minutes and saying thank you when the order finally gets to you? I guarantee you that a pleasant person will be an unusual occurrence in her day, maybe unusual enough for her to pick up the tract you left on the table with the tip and actually read it. But would you have ever had that chance if you had ranted and raved like everyone else? If how I act makes me ashamed to invite someone to our assemblies, surely I can see past my rationalizations exactly how badly my behavior reflects on the Lord and his body. And if I find myself muttering, "He doesn't deserve my patience," that should be a smack in the face about God's grace toward me and how much I did not deserve that either.
If you don't already, start training yourself to think before you speak, especially when things are unfair or wind up costing you time or even money. It may not make a difference; in fact, it will seldom make a difference, but isn't a person's soul worth taking that chance? If I have transformed myself to be like the Son of God instead of everyone else, I shouldn't even need to ask myself that question
And if any man would go to law with you, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow turn not away (Matt 5:40-42.
Dene Ward
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