Blessed: Sharing Christ

I know, two posts in one day, but I didn't want to make my Christmas decorating one any longer than it already was! Scroll down to read all about our fun we had yesterday :)

I have to tell you the neatest story. Back in February when we were doing the memory lane walks with Lynnette, I was looking through old letters and found one from my Mom about a silver cross necklace she had given me. I had forgotten that she even gave me a letter with it. In the letter, she said she knew I probably would think she was crazy, but that she felt so strongly that I had to pass that necklace down to my own girls one day, that she wanted it to be very special.

Well, I immediately felt horrible because I remembered the necklace and remembered that a rhinestone had fallen out of it. It was probably sterling silver, but the rhinestones were not real gems or anything. I remembered going through one of my neurotic cleaning phases and I just knew I had thrown away that necklace. I remember debating on whether to keep it at the time and I really remember throwing it away because I knew it wouldn't be worth it to have the rhinestone replaced since it was not real. Keep in mind that at the time, I had no recollection of the letter my Mom had written about it.

Well, after finding that letter in February, I searched all through both of my jewelry boxes and any other place I could think of where it might be and it was nowhere to be found. I felt so horrible and guilty over it. I told the Lord even to please tell my Mom I was so sorry that I got rid of it! I have just been so heartbroken over that necklace ever since February and have thought often about it.

Well, yesterday I was reaching in the very back of my closet for a jacket that ironically enough, my Mom had made for me. So, I am reaching and I see this old, old small jewelry box that I honestly forgot was back there. I keep a bunch of old broaches from my Meme that I would never wear in it. My heart skipped a little as I pulled it out, wondering if there was any way possible that silver cross pendant might be in there. I highly doubted it, but had to check and see. I pulled out the first little drawer and didn't see it. Then, I pulled out the second drawer, and sure enough, there it was, just sitting there, with it's missing rhinestone and all! I just smiled the biggest smile and then almost started to cry. I knew right then that was the Lord's gift to me this Christmas. I really would almost swear that I threw it away. Whether I did or not, I'll never know, but I do know that the Lord loves me enough to have made sure I found it yesterday, tucked safely away! Amazing!!

So, on to our lesson. Would you believe at small group Friday we were all talking about how to minister and share Christ with others. It's really been on my mind lately. And this morning, after praying that the Lord would show me what He wants me to learn at church today, would you believe that the message was on sharing Christ with others!! My small group friend, Liz, came up to me after the service and was like, can you believe that?! We were both amazed!

We've been talking about being blessed and today was about how we are blessed to share Christ. Another word for a person who shares Christ is evangelist. Our Pastor told us that studies have been done that rank different professions in order of how highly others think of them. A televangelist was on the list and only 2 professions ranked lower in terms of how they are viewed for trustworthiness, morals, etc! Those that ranked lower were organized crime and drug dealers! Even a prostitute and politicians were ranked higher! This is what we are dealing with! A few people have given us all a bad name. Unbelievers automatically get defensive when you try to share your faith and just want to push you away most of the time.

Our Pastor told us that believers usually are scared to share with others and then they feel guilty for not. He said if we are afraid, we are not alone. We are afraid of being rejected, of how others will view us, or that we are not qualified. But, in 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about how he would do anything to win others. It was about him being obedient and able to be used. The Holy Spirit would then bring that conviction for the unbeliever.

There are lots of examples of unlikely evangelists in the Bible. We talked about 4 today.

1. The Samaritan woman in John 4:28 - All she had to do was invite someone to come and see. Studies show that 80% of people would come to church if invited by someone they trust. This Samaritan woman already had several things going against her at that time. For one, she was a woman. The Jews also did not talk to Samaritans back then. Also, she had already been married 5 times and was living with another man. So, when Jesus spoke to her, she was already surprised because he was a Jew. She was taken aback by the things He knew about her, so she went to town and told others to come and see Him. She didn't go home and study and plan out her best plan to win others over! LOL! She just simply said, come and see, and many were saved as a result of that.

2. The Blind Guy in John 9:25 - All he did was share his story. All followers of Christ have a story. We were once dead and hopeless, but then we were saved, and that equals an incredible story! When Jesus made mud pies and smeared them on his eyes, He did it on the Sabbath, which you were not supposed to do. So, when the guy was healed, everyone criticized Jesus for working on the Sabbath and they wanted to know who this person was that healed this man. The blind guy was like, hey, I don't know if he's a sinner or not, but what I do know is that I was blind, but now I can see! That was his story. His blindness was healed in order for God to show His glory.

3. Dorcas in Acts 9:36 - Dorcas gave her life away. She was always doing good and helping the poor. Her burden was for widows. She did everything she could to help them, since back then, widows often were left with nothing from their husband's estates. When she died, she was raised from the dead, and this was told all over Joppa. Because she gave her life away, the Lord raised her for His glory. This is why Jesus said to go out and make disciples (not just go out and get people to say a magic prayer). How do you do that? By doing life with others! Then, you win the right to be heard.

4. Peter in Acts 2:38 - Sometimes you do just have to get in someone's face, like Peter does, and tell them flat out what they have to do. Sometimes you have to lovingly confront someone. The goal is not to be angry, and it's also not to tell people that being a Christian is all about love and feeling good. Sometimes you just have to tell them to repent, and warn them to save themselves.

So, I felt much better today after hearing all the different ways that we can be evangelists. It isn't about being equipped with all the right words to say, or being a perfect person. It's really just about being open to tell people when they ask, inviting them to share that with you, showing them His love through the way you live your life, and even lovingly confronting them when you feel the Holy Spirit moving you to do so.