How did you first hear about Jesus? Maybe it was in Sunday School? Young Life? Family? Friends? Maybe you grew up in the church. Someone had to tell that person about Jesus, right? That person was acting boldly. They recognized the fact that everyone has the chance to spend eternity with or without Jesus Christ. Everyone has a soul. Everyone was created in the image of God. So, who are we to deny someone that chance by not sharing the gospel? So, here is where living on mission happens. Be intentional. Don’t be afraid to engage in conversation. Recognize that you may be the only way the people in your sphere of influence see Jesus.
I had been thinking about this and praying for boldness and God blessed me with an opportunity. I was grabbing a sandwich while on my lunch break and there a lady sitting outside the shop. She asked if I had any spare change. At that point, I knew God was giving me an opportunity to be bold, which is definitely outside of my comfort zone. I asked if I could buy her lunch. To say the least, she was surprised. I bought her lunch, sat down with her and asked if she knew Jesus. (Got right to the point, huh?) She explained her current situation and how she ended up on the streets. I shared the gospel with her and asked to pray for her. Will, I ever see her again? Who knows. What do I know was that God ordained that lunch conversation to happen. He knew that I would want a sandwich. He knew that she would be sitting right in front of the entrance. There was nothing I could have done in my own power to make that happen. Is her life going to be different because of what I shared? I hope so. I would like to think that the ten minutes I spent with her changed her eternity.
So, now what? Friends, be intentional. Be praying that God would give you opportunities to be bold. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ryan Ingram shared in one of his messages that there are 100,000 people, between the ages of 18-25, who live in the San Jose area. Three percent of them know Jesus. Let me do the easy math for you. Ninety-seven percent of the people living in our own city don’t know Jesus. That shocks me. Think of how much that number would change if we lived intentional lives. Imagine all the lives that could be affected if we lived on mission.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Author: Nicole Presley