Live as though every where you go is a closed country
If you never had the chance to verbally share the Gospel, would the way you lived your every day life be enough of an example of who Christ is?
Living in a closed country this month has been an interesting transition. Especially coming from Nepal, where days a week we visited a different church and freely worshipped and praised Jesus publicly with the Nepali people. I was able to have open conversations on buses with Hindu people about Jesus. I shared freely about the mission I am on and my purpose for being in their country.
I grew in boldness in sharing my faith and taking any opportunity to bring Jesus into the conversation, which wasn’t hard because everything that has to do with me, has to do with Him.
My team prayed in public, experienced the Holy Spirit in new ways and we would have open conversation about the Father anywhere we wanted. We didn’t have to use encrypted language like calling Jesus “Dad,” or saying we are “volunteers.”
Now, being in Vietnam where evangelizing to the Vietnamese community is illegal, we have been forced to change our language and adjust our posture of reaching the young adults here. We actually have to build relationships, build trust, spend time with the people we meet and want to invest in. We are intentional, consistent and in pursuit of their friendship.
Back to the basics, and it’s beautiful. We depend on the Holy Spirit to lead conversations, to radiate through our smile, our eyes, our words and actions. We live our lives in action for the King, relying on Him to create a curiosity and a desire in the hearts of the people we come across to know more about who lives within us. The only way to do this is to spend quality time with them. Time is all we have, and we have to use it wisely.
Everyone desires to be seen and loved. The majority of the Vietnamese community have no knowledge of the Gospel. They have no concept of grace, unconditional love or hope. How can we be the best example of that without telling them who Jesus is. We have to show them. It’s about being and not doing. Be the hands and feet of Jesus, be the live representation of Christ.
This month has been a revelation. Why are we not living every day as if it’s a closed country? Why are we not building relationships and investing in the people around us who need to experience Jesus the most. Exactly how the worship song goes, “set a fire down in my soul, that I can’t contain, that I can’t control.” We should be living our lives as a radical example of who Jesus is.
1 Thessalonians 2:8- So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well.
Our lives as well.
It’s about being authentic, genuine and kind. They don’t want religion thrusted upon them, they want quality time with a friend. The people we meet need to see that we are also broken. We all experience pain and shame, we have walked through trials and valleys, but there is so much hope. How can we be the example that the only good in us comes from Jesus?
The moment you give your life to Jesus and accept him into your heart, something changes, a switch is flipped and your desires, actions, words and behavior are altered. Show your heart to the people who need a tangible example of Christ, not just to hear it, but to see it right in front of them. You could be the only visual representation of Christ they’ll ever experience.
So give your heart away, the weight of eternity depends on it.
