The title sounds harsh.. I know.
I have been and will be working at a camp all summer. It is a Christian Summer Camp. I talk about Jesus EVERYDAY to children and counselors. I tell them about how good God is. How sovereign God is. How much God loves them. What God did for them. Words and more words spill out of my mouth everyday.
What do those words mean coming from a stranger? Coming from someone who is just "there". Nothing. What do these words mean coming from someone who is mean? Cominng from someone who has no interest in you? Nothing.
Today I have been reflecting on the impact I have had on people's lives. I think back to past relationships and to current ones. How much did I talk about the Lord to those people? I look at facebook statuses and tweets. So many of other's read verses and praises to the Lord. How many of mine contain similar words?
The answer is not much..
This started to bother me. But then I realized that it is not all about words. The reason the words are effective here at camp is because the children know that we truly care about them. We get to know them and we love them.
Without that love these words would mean nothing.
I don't have to post facebook statuses about Jesus to share His love. I love people with actions. I show them that I care about them. They recognize that there is something different about me because of the way I love. That opens a whole new door to share Christ.
“Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words”
Those are the words that I have unknowingly been living by. The love of God doesn't need words beacue the truth is this:
"People don't care how much you know until then know how much you care."
I could preach all day long in sermons, on facebook, through twitter, or one-on-ones…but that would be futile. So I will continue to share the gosel with my actions and with love.. and if need be use words.
