Then, I realized that I don't put myself in the position for these kind of things to happen that often. God has placed people and so many opportunities in my life, and I am soo busy with my life, that I don't even see them when they are staring me in the face.
Take the cashier at the grocery store. Do I even most of the time look at her long enough to give a genuine smile, regardless of how she is treating me? Can I stay off my phone (or quit texting :) long enough to notice people around me? Do I walk around that store looking for an opportunity, praying for an opportunity to share Christ with someone. It could be just by offering that genuine smile or kind word, or maybe asking how they are doing, if there was something I could pray with them about or pray for them. Or maybe the opportunity is to start a conversation with someone shopping around me. Or say a kind word to the person in the drive-thru, even if they aren't giving me the time of day!
Jeremiah 8:20 (NIV) says The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved!
They are everywhere around us, begging in their own ways for someone, anyone to show them the love of Christ.
Ezekiel 3:19 (NIV) says But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
All through Ezekiel 33 He commands us to tell those around us
v1 The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, speak to your countrymen...
v6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.
v7 Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel...
v10 Son, of man, say to the house of Israel...
v12 Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen...
Over and over He tells us to pay attention to those around us. I don't know about you, but I have done a poor job. I excuse it away by saying I'm just so busy, or I don't have any time. You know, all the typical things. But that isn't what Jesus asks of me. How many times over the past year have you shared Christ with someone? In the past 6 months? How many times have we shared what Jesus has done in our lives...beyond a blog?
I need to do better. I will do more. How about you? Opportunity knocks...
1 comment:
Great challenge!
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