We have been doing a series in the High School class on sharing our faith called “Just GO Man!” In conjunction with that, we have been going through the “Way of the Master” in our Home Groups that meet throughout the week. In preparation for the preaching on Sunday’s, I have been reading lots of books on evangelism - all of them have been good, but one of them in particular has really been convicting. In fact, I can only read portions at a time before I become overwhelmed with with my own apathy for the lost. The other day I was reading a section entitled “Laziness” - the author was listing excuses we Christians usually give for not sharing our faith. Wow - this just smacked me right in the face. This guy was describing me! It’s not that I don’t care about the lost, I’m just lazy about praying for - and then looking for - opportunities to witness. Unlike others I know, I don’t make time to just go out and witness: you know, like going to the mall, or grocery store, etc. for the sole purpose of witnessing to strangers. But why don’t I? I could think of a thousand “reasons”, but the bottom line is laziness. Okay, we will put that one aside for a minute - how about just sharing my faith as I carry out my daily life: you know, while I’m at the mall looking for clothes, or shopping at the grocery store, or putting gas in my car, etc.? I see lost people everyday in the regular activities of my life; why don’t I share my faith with them? Laziness.
So, I’m reading this potion of the book on laziness just before I head off to the gym the other morning and I begin to think about the girl behind the counter that I see every time I go in there. I have been going there for over a year and haven’t said a word to her about the Lord - what the heck am I doing? Not to mention several other members that I see every time I work out, but have never shared my faith with. What am I waiting for? How long do I need to “build relationships”? I talked to them about the weather, the Chiefs, who we think will advance on American Idol - but never the Lord. So, today I am committed - I am not leaving the gym until I witness to someone.
Well, I get through my entire work out and I haven’t spoken to anyone yet. I was looking and praying, but no opportunities had come up. On my way out, I stopped at the front counter for a cup of coffee, and I struck up a conversation with the girl I mentioned before. I used the technique we have been learning in the Way of the Master - I took our conversation and turned it from the physical to the spiritual. I began to talk about the serious coffee drinking that goes on with our staff at church. Then, I popped the question: “Do you have a Christian Background?” She said, “Yes, I go to the Community of Christ church”. I then proceeded to ask her if she considered herself to be a good person, to which she replied, “of course”. We were off to the races from there! I was able to take her through the law so that she could see her sin and guilt before God, and then I spoke to her of God’s grace in sending his Son to pay the penalty for our sin. It was awesome! I left that day praising God; but also feeling like such a fool for waiting so long to witness to her. I don’t want to stand before the Lord and have to admit that the reason I failed to sow the seed of the gospel was because I was just too lazy. Hopefully, I won’t have to.
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