COLOSSIANS 4
5 Make the most of your chances to tell others the Good News. Be wise in all your contacts with them. 6 Let your conversation be gracious as well as sensible, for then you will have the right answer for everyone.
DRAWING PEOPLE TO JESUS OR DRIVING THEM AWAY FROM HIM
Life is short.. very short.
We have a very limited time on earth, and we are to take every single opportunity we have to reach as many people as we can.
We have numerous opportunities to share our faith.. some are with people; we will probably never come into contact with again.. they are fleeting.
So many times, I go out without literature in my pocket, now being an Englishman in China, means I can’t converse in depth with the Chinese, but I can Say YESUAINI.. JESUS LOVES YOU.. and offer them a piece of literature. The probable reason I don’t take literature.. apart from being very forgetful, is that I don’t expect God to work and bring anyone across my path.
Paul in his final words to Timothy and Peter also to the churches said these things
2 Timothy 4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
1 Peter 3
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
These verses tell us that in all our contacts with people, we can even put people off by how we approach them and certainly by our mannerisms and attitude.
But especially by our speech, we want so much to share the gospel, that we forget that the hearer has legitimate questions, they want to hear of that hope that lies within you.
We seek to virtually throw it down people’s throats.. without listening to them.. that’s why we have two ears and one mouth.
How many people have been put off by our attitude, but especially by our speech, we speak over them, we push our literature in their face.? we even run after them begging them to take a tract.
Did Jesus ever do that?.
Did the apostle Paul or Peter or Stephen?
They spoke firmly and truthfully, but they spoke with graciousness and sensitivity.
Our job when we witness is to draw people to Jesus not drive people away from Him
Which are you doing?
God bless you
Keith