Sharing Your Faith

Just came across this great article on the International Website....

“Mom! There’s nothing to eat! Can we pick something up on my way to practice?” my son bellowed, his head hidden by the half-open refrigerator door.

Yes, that twinge of mother guilt hit me hard. I just did not have time to get to the store, and we really were out of most of the quick fix food items for hungry teenage boys. The refrigerator was empty, as were the counters. But for some reason the suggestion of getting something on the way felt like an added insult to my mothering. Wasn’t I supposed to be the source of sustenance for my family?

As I busied myself with a makeshift grilled cheese for him, an interesting parallel shot through my mind (which I think was no accident):

Mother guilt
Evangelism guilt

Not doing all I could as a mother
Not doing all I could to spread the good news of God’s love

Empty refrigerator
Empty sense of God’s impact in my own life

Not finding time to grocery shop and fill up
Not finding time to be filled by God

Grocery shopping
Time spent with God

I thought about how the kitchen looks after I make a trip to the store–food overflowing onto the counters, bread in the breadbox, fruit in the fruit bowl, that coveted box of donuts in plain sight. It is very apparent that I’ve “filled up” at the store. But what about “filling up” in my life? When people look at me, is it apparent that I have been filled up by God? Is his love overflowing from me to those around me? Am I taking the time with God to be filled by him?

Evangelism, telling others about the good news of Christ, is an overflow from our lives with Christ. If we are living on empty, we have little to share.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Sharing the gospel with others comes from an active and vital relationship with Jesus. As we are filled through relationship with him, we can in turn fill others. Hope sloshes out of us and onto them. We cannot help but be a living example for the hope we have found.

Over the years, I have found that evangelism guilt (just like mother guilt) is completely unproductive and unhelpful. I have to think it grieves God greatly when our perception is that telling others about him is a chore or something we have to do. How he must delight in us when our lives are a living testament to him, when our conversations are infused with his love, when our joy overflows onto those around us.

The following are a few thoughts I had to help promote a lifestyle of evangelism, a life so full in God that it is outwardly apparent to all those we hope to touch by his grace and love.

1. Make time with God a part of our every day. This does not have to look like a regularly scheduled time, it can be an on-going attitude of gratitude for all he does; an on-going intentional inclusion of him in all we do.
2. Recognize that our part in evangelism is the willingness to speak about the joy we have found in our relationship with God and give credit where credit is due. Any “conversion” of the heart is in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
3. Focus outside of ourselves. Even though the default of the human condition is to always see things through our own eyes, being intentional about seeing things from another point of view will help us see everyday opportunities of what is inside us that can overflow encouragement onto others.
4. Increase our ability to observe and discern places where people need help or encouragement; this way we can tailor our encouragement to the specific needs of others. Treating people as unique creations helps them see that the good news of God’s love is for them specifically.
5. Take the opportunity to talk about our own stories, how God has impacted our lives in very real ways. This tangible example is much more impacting than a bunch of arguments and logical reasons to believe in God.
6. Remember that lives changed by God’s love are the greatest legacy you can leave in this world.

So the next time you’re feeling guilty or empty or guilty for feeling empty, remember where your source of joy comes from, that you are meant to live a hope-filled life, a life that is not contained, spilling out and covering those around you.

Liz Selzer is the Director of Leadership Development at MOPS International.