This concept was mentioned, taught, emphasized, etc. during candidate seminar. This is how others come to the know the Lord, how churches are started, and how discipleship is done. Very few people will just "get saved" without having known a Christian beforehand (though it can happen).
I am not always very good at this. I get caught up in my list of things to do, taking care of the boys, and my responsibilities at church. The house is constantly beckoning me to do more, especially now that we face moving in the next several months. I am also a rather selfish person, liking my time to myself. I love the boys' nap time so that I can have "me time." I know this isn't always wrong, but it can be.
We have been trying to reach out to our neighbor across the street. She is an elderly lady who lives alone. Through several different circumstances the Lord has given us opportunities to show love and compassion towards her. Now before you think I am tooting my own horn, just wait. I don't mind helping her when I want to, but at times it isn't always convenient. Last week she asked me if I would mind if she called me once in a while so she would have someone to talk to. Thinking that we already talk to her nearly every day since we get her mail, that didn't thrill me too much. My thoughts were, "Doesn't she realize how busy I am? She must think I just sit around the house all day! She doesn't know how much I really have to do!" Later I realized that was wrong thinking. Jesus had a lot to do and He often had people clamoring at him for teaching or healing. Isn't that one of the reasons they had to go out in the boat? We don't know for sure how he spent the first 30 yrs. of his life, but we know the last three yrs. were certainly not spent for himself - for "me time". If I knew I was going to die in a few years, I would be tempted to read lots of interesting fiction, blog as much of my life as I could, go on some exotic trips, and spend time relaxing with family and friends.
Well, in the last few weeks I've come to realize what I really knew all along - we need more prolonged one-on-one time with her in order to be able to share about the Lord. We've had her over for a couple holidays, but it needs to go beyond that in order to have more time to plant, water, and hopefully reap. So yesterday I invited her to a progressive dinner we are having for our church on Friday night. The group is small because of vacation plans and other obligations, so she will get a chance to know some people from our church. At the end we are going to have a singing and testimony time at a bonfire. I am hoping the Lord will use this time to work in her heart.
I can't expect her to want to get to know our Savior if she hasn't even gotten a chance to know us better. Hopefully in the coming months I will be able to write that the relationship we are building with her leads to the ultimate relationship - between her and Jesus Christ.
1 comment:
So, are you and Jason going to take turns preaching in the pulpit, or what? :P (just kidding!) This is a very timely post, Adele, and much-needed on my part. There are many times I am thinking about what I want to do, why I don't want to do such-and-such, etc... while outwardly I am being agreeable, the inward thoughts are sin, and need to be recognized as such. It's also good for us to remember how we need to be building relationships with those around us, because ultimately, they need Jesus. .. another thing I must work on.
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