Thursday, May 20, 2010

"Anne, this is Jesus. Jesus, this is Anne.": On Proper Introductions to Jesus



Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

I met a woman today who didn't know who Jesus was.  "That dude with the tan skin and beard?" she questioned.

No clue who he was.  No clue what he wanted.  No clue what significance he had on world history...much less her very own life. 

I was kind of surprised by this response from her.  But more so, I was surprised by the fact that I had known her for 4 months and only now just realized that she had never had any exposure to God's love, for she had never had any exposure to Jesus. 

I guess it's hard to fathom that there are people in America who have grown up clueless to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I mean, I can understand the Bedouins living in the deserts of Africa or the tribes in the jungle of the Amazon...but, central Illinois? 

It was a sobering moment.  But it got me thinking.  There is a reason that Jesus specifically commanded the disciples to first go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth.  I used to think that Jesus chose some random towns to send off his disciples.  But there was a strategic plan in choosing those towns in that particular order.  Sharing the gospel had to start locally before it went globally.  It had to start in Jerusalem before it could move on. 

Because, you see, the gospel spreads like wildfire.  It has to start in the center and spread outward if it is going to have the greatest effect on the world. 

Where is the center?   

Wherever you are today. 

That's all it comes down to.  Today.  The town that you are living in, the street that you are walking on, the job that you are working in....the people surrounding you on a day to day to day.  It has to start with them. 

It's great to have a heart for overseas mission, but in all reality, that heart is dead if it hasn't reached individuals across the street.  To burn with passion for the world, you must also burn with passion for your community.  To burn with passion for the gospel, it has to start with the small steps.  It starts with opening your mouth.  It starts with taking the risk.  It starts with letting go of all assumptions and wearing your heart on your sleeve.

I shared the gospel with this young woman today.  We spent a long time chatting about Jesus and answering questions about who He was and why He came.

There was no miraculous transformation at the end of our chat.  No crying, no hugging, no saying the "sinner's prayer".  Nothing dramatic.  But there was one small seed dropped on fertile ground.  One small seed that had never been there before.  One small seed that now has a chance to take root...to grow. 

I may never know what happened to this woman, or the conversation that we had today.  But one thing I do know- Jesus was introduced to someone for the first time.  "Anne, this is Jesus.  Jesus, this is Anne"

And from what I know of Him, He's a pretty charming guy....I think He can take it from here. 

5 comments:

  1. Deb,

    Great thoughts as usual. One thing that I have been praying about is John 14 and 16 where Jesus introduces the role of the Holy Spirit. I have a tendency to try and take care of things myself instead of truly trusting that the Holy Spirit's role in the lives of others. Of course that doesn't mean that we can letup and take the easy way out of ministering, but if it's just on me, then it's also on my limitations. Praise God that he uses us as to plant the seed that the Holy Spirit can then work to perfection. Thanks for sharing.

    Andrew

    ReplyDelete
  2. Andrew, thanks for your thoughts as usual. That's definitely a challenging lesson you are learning. It's hard to remember and actively submit to the role of God's spirit in our lives, while at the same time being close enough to hear how He wants us to live and act.

    The rest is up to Him....

    Thanks for reading and for your thoughts:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow. Thanks for sharing :) I've had so many moments while reading your blog where I have to stop and really think about what you've written and let it sink in. God is good (and charming) :D

    God Bless,
    Vanessa

    ReplyDelete
  4. Vanessa, you have such a good heart, I can see that clearly just by the things you say. So glad you were touched by this post...it has really effected my life and my conversations lately. Thanks for being such a supporter of my blog and for reading faithfully. It means a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's interesting to see the encounters God brings into our lives as we remain open to Him. I pray that I never get too caught up in my own life and miss these opportunities to share Jesus.

    ReplyDelete

Love to hear your thoughts...