Sometimes I find myself trying to 'sell' salvation. Do you know what I mean? Rather than allowing the Spirit to work through me, I realize that I am 'pushing' Jesus onto the people in my life.
I was pondering this thought recently and it pulled me up short. Jesus does not need me to 'sell' Him to anyone. I realize that if I do nothing more than share the word but more importantly to LIVE in Him then He will be a sweet fragrance to those I come in contact with. If my life reflects HIS radiance, hope, compassion then I need never worry if I am helping anyone find life in HIM.
Its hard to resist the urge to 'sell' or 'push' my faith in this day and age when I feel like a whole lot of the world is 'pushed' onto me. Why, I can't seem to protect my husband from visual bites of scantily clad models on our own tv or on billboards and magazine covers. Alcohol, shallowness and materialism are pushed on me all the time!
My human nature reacts by wanting to 'fix' everyone else by having them believe in Jesus - and somehow I have it in my head that if only I can be the one to 'convert' them then I'll not only save them from 'the world' but at the same time remove one more person who would support a society of casual living.
I also sometimes have felt that I should have a 'number' of people who I have personally led to Christ. Some people can count many - me, if I have PERSONALLY done this, I'm not aware of it. Besides, this is my point, Jesus can't be 'sold' or 'bought'. I need only worry about myself - for if I'm not right with God myself I'll not be leading anyone anywhere. If I'm not right with God then what sort of a witness am I anyways? What kind of a witness am I if I try to 'cram' my religion down anyone's throat?
Jesus will use any one of us, sometimes we will be aware, sometimes not. We need be a light unto ALL we meet - friend, family and stranger alike - for we might be entertaining anyone and not know it. We need not worry if we are furthering His word if we are already COMPLETELY following Him. If we are doing this we will know by His prompting whether we should be talking about our faith to our neighbour, friend, family member - or even a stranger halfway around the world as a missions. We need to stop selling and start looking inward and working on ourselves first.
Yes, Jesus is a sweet fragrance. His word is sweet. His burden is light. He is a lamp which keeps my life a light! He is a joy in our lives and wants to bless us!
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Psalm 119:103
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Psalm 18:28
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
Deuteronomy 16:15
For seven days celebrate the Feast to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
God does not need us as sales employees - He wants us to be friends, daughters and sons. We don't need to turn people off or bore them to death with our ideals of why they NEED Him, if we live in his Joy, Caring, Compassion then we will attract people to want to find out more.
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I hope you will all keep your church in your prayers as we make a transition in the near future! Please pray for Jim and Elaine as they prepare for their upcoming move.
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I would like to point you to Lillian's blog - Lillian has practically grown up in the Osoyoos Christian Centre and she is proving to be a regular contributer to our blog despite living in England now. You can find Lillians blog by clicking the link in the sidebar. She always posts wonderful pictures of her family - nice for us to watch Michael and Amanda grow up! Thanks Lillian for your contributions - we all miss you. ♥
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I will be orgnanizing a day of prayer and fasting with our women. Stay tuned here for more information.
~ Barb
2 comments:
you are right you don't need to sell Jesus you do need to show Jesus ...but you must not forget to not turn to the world to make them happy and forget who should shine through us ...some times I know I try to keep the world happy so they will like me ...because they don't want to know who I hang with... Jesus ...I have done that so much in the last couple of years ...hoping if I act like them ( the world ) they might want to get to know my savior...then I find it is me that has moved away from what the Lord wanted me to be. Me shining His light His love and like you said what He is in your life ...thank you for your awesome words and love
What's that saying?? Actions speak louder than words!:) Showing people Jesus..is more powerful than trying to push him onto someone.Love always draws then to him.:)
Love your post!
Hugs,
Valinda
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