Telemarket Evangelism

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, "The kingdom of God is near you." But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, "Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near." — Luke 10:8-11

One of the greatest things about my husband’s and my living abroad is that we do not have a home phone. Which means when we sit down for dinner at 7 pm, the phone does not ring with someone selling something. In some circles Christians are seen similarly: as people who are waiting to sell you the next best thing the second you pick up the phone, open the door, or welcome them in. It can come across as a hidden agenda and leave a bad taste with a non-believer.

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two messengers he told them that the harvest was great. He sent them out to the villages with specific instructions. He told them to find the people of peace. He encouraged believers to seek those who welcomed them and welcomed God’s message. These people were called people of peace. I like this “style” of evangelism. Instead of studying the Bible in order to rattle off facts to those we meet in a grocery store, I believe we always need to be prepared to convey the gospel message to the people of peace God puts in our lives.

My mother has brought this to light for me in some of her recent exchanges with close friends and family. She is not someone who I would ever have considered to be a bold evangelist. But in recent months, she has been the greatest example of an evangelist I have seen. She is simply coming alongside others in their time of need and responding to what life is bringing them, to share with them who Jesus is and to encourage them through the hope found in Christ. She is not pushing herself into situations or forcing people to listen. She is simply being sensitive to God’s timing.

If you have found yourself struggling with a more aggressive style of evangelism, rather than giving up, I encourage you to simply try engaging people in discussion, naturally and unforced, being prepared to share the hope of Christ that is within you.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Who are the people of peace God has put in your life?
2. Pray that God would show you clearly the opportunities He has given you to share His truth with others.

FURTHER READING:
Luke 10:1-16; 1 Timothy 6:18; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; 1 Peter 3:15

Kelly McFadden

One Thing Remains the Same

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you." — 1 Peter 1:23-25

In Granada, Spain, on top of a hill sits a palace called La Alhambra. The architecture and detailed design is unparalleled. This monument stares down on a city it has watched change for hundreds of years. Part of its fame comes from the distinct styles of architecture this fortress showcases; a tribute to the history through which it has lived after being built in the 14th century. It has survived as a fortress during the Arabic rule, a palace for both the Arab and Spanish kings, and now a monument for the world. Today, millions of people walk through this historic site each year.

For centuries, people have traveled the same roads leading from the entrance to the palaces to the gardens and to the fortress. Some lived in the splendor of the lavish walls of the palace, while others stood guard at the main gate or worked in the gardens. Now tourists listen to audio guides to learn about the remaining artifacts in the hope of shedding some light on what life was like for those who lived there long before.

Only one thing remains the same since the days La Alhambra was built: the Word of God. People come and go. Flowers bloom and die. Inventions surface and become obsolete. Wars are fought and won. Buildings are constructed and destroyed. New faces replace old ones. And palaces become monuments. But the Lord has been a steady Rock since the beginning and forever. The same Lord to whom generations of people have called, the same God who walked with His people through the desert, the same Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob still exists. He is God and will exist forever.

In this life, our possessions, accomplishments and even the people around us will disappear. The only thing that will not fade is God: His presence, His Word, His will and His work. It is these things that will remain permanent through all time. It is important for us to focus on the things that are eternal, and not simply waste all of our energy and resources on things that will fade away.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What comfort do you find in knowing God’s Word remains the same always?
2. How should you live your life knowing all you have will fade except the Word of God?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 40:6-8; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:12-13

Kelly McFadden