So,
it’s been a while since my last blog and a lot has happened in just a short
amount of time. God has really been working in my life to prepare me for this
trip. He has tested my faith, brought new people into my life, took people out
of my life, and continues to teach me lessons daily. I’ve been reading a book
called Evangelism Today during my daily devotions, and I have to say… it is
wonderful. This book helps me see and understand Evangelism and all that it
encompasses. I know that in 2011 I will be
expected to share the Gospel with many people in many different places and
situations. To be honest, the thought of it is scary at first. How will I be
able to share God with all of these people all over the world when it’s hard
for me to just start a conversation with my neighbor? As I read the book, I
found an interesting section on WHY we as Christians don’t share the gospel
like we should, and WHY people don’t want to hear it or just choose to not
believe it. For one, many Christians who love the Lord, don’t share their Faith
because they simply don’t think they know enough about it to share with people. They know they
are forgiven, they believe the Bible… but what if someone asks me a question
that I can not answer? What if they get mad at me? What if they don’t believe
me? The answer is simple. We are disciples of the Lord. We share our faith by
simply sharing with people the RELATIONSHIP we have with Jesus. What has the
Lord done for you? How has He helped you? Why do you want a relationship with Him?
These are things you can share and have peace that you know the answer. This
helps people relate on a more personal basis and helps them understand. As we
share our relationship with God, we share the gospel. We may not feel like we
are getting anywhere, but what we don’t realize sometimes is that we have
planted a seed.
The
book also talks about meeting people’s needs physically first, then
spiritually. This is following in the footsteps of Jesus. These two things go
hand in hand. I’ve been reading a lot of blogs of current racers and realized
that we are going to be experiencing a lot of poverty, sickness, malnutrition,
and simply lack of basic necessities in life that none of us are used to being
exposed to. Many of these people will have just one piece of clothing to wear.
We will not be going into these villages and new lands to just simply tell the
people about Jesus. We will not be going into these countries to just help them
build houses and churches and teach them about health. We are going into these
places to help meet their physical needs, then help meet their spiritual
needs. We will be building relationships
with these people. Earning their trust. Sharing our faith through this
relationship. Most Americans already have all of their physical needs met. In
fact, they have SO MUCH that there simply is no need for God. This is one of
the struggles the book talked about when sharing the Gospel. People just simply
don’t think they need God. We already have plenty of ‘things’ to worship.
I know my world is about to get rocked
when I encounter countless people who are desperate for God, who don’t have all
of their needs met, who are searching for more. I’ve read a bunch of blogs from
racers who have returned from their trip completely changed. In 14 months I
will be one of them. Next time I look in my closet and start complaining about
having nothing to wear… I’d better THINK about what I’m actually saying. I
have a lot to learn.
