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A Simple Invitation

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Years ago I was sharing the Good News at one of our North American festivals. As I was giving the invitation for people to come forward to confess Jesus Christ, I was shocked to see an elderly gentleman named Bob make his way to the front hand-in-hand with his wife. Bob was a famous lawyer in Iowa. But what surprised me was that everybody thought Bob was already a Christian, and so did I!

That evening I went out to coffee with him, and I said to him, “Bob, why did you come forward? I thought you’d been a church person all of your life.” He said, “Yes, I’ve been in church all my life, but nobody ever gave me a chance to confess Christ like you gave us tonight. My wife and I have been waiting for this opportunity for 37 years.” Thirty-seven years living in the shadows.

There are countless people just like Bob who we run into every day. They may go to church, and look great on the outside. But many of them have never been given the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus says, “If you confess me before men, I’ll confess you before my Father which is in heaven.” Ask the Lord to show you who you can share Christ’s invitation with. It may be just what they’re waiting to hear – maybe for 37 years.

Use Your Gifts

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You never know how and when the Lord will give you a chance to speak well of His Son. Some people, of course, are gutsier than others. But we all have a style that’s unique to us. Don’t totally imitate other people. Do it your way.

My sister, Ketty, will do anything to share the Good News. Her boldness is inspiring! A few years ago we were in the state of Maine preparing for a festival. Two feet of snow had fallen the night before, and everything was shut down. Ketty was stuck in a hotel with her husband, along with a bunch of tourists. At breakfast, she heard some of the tourists saying, “I was going to go to church, and now I can’t go because of the weather.”

Ketty spontaneously stood up on her chair in the restaurant and said out loud, “Ladies and gentlemen, why don’t we all go to the ballroom at 10:00 and I’ll give you a Christian message? It will be our way of doing church today.” Do you know almost all of the tourists came to hear her speak? And when Ketty gave the invitation, listen to this, 48 people made a commitment to Jesus!

I Peter 4 reminds us, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received.” So, share God’s message as the Holy Spirit guides you. Let the Lord lay an idea on your heart. Then, jump at any opportunity that comes your way, using the gifts He’s given you.