Recently, in a small group, this question was asked. To put it in context, a person who had not been a regular church-goer is beginning to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in her life and wants to learn more and talk to other believers and get plugged in.
My response to this question was much the same as the answer I give when somebody asks me how I know I will be permitted by a patient to pray with them. There are clues everywhere; we simply need to look for them.
The Bible states: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV).
I have tried to really pinpoint how my ability to speak Jesus with people has come into being. I believe it started with small conversations one on one with my pastor. Then our small group showed up one night a week, and we were of course comfortable to talk about Jesus. In both of these contexts, I knew that the purpose of the conversation was to go deeper into relationship with Jesus and others; but what about out in the world?
My studies throughout the Bachelor’s in ministry has landed me in Panera Bread. From previous posts, you may have already picked up on it. I thought I was going there for bottomless coffee and less tasks to pull me away from my studies. Instead, I have met people face to face who were there for their own small Bible studies who identified me as a student of The Word. Through short introductions we were brought together. Invitations to the studies followed. When I gave my live sermon in May to culminate my degree program, one of those patrons of Panera showed up for me.
I recently had the availability to show up to his Bible study. When I arrived, I was the only one. I remembered which church he attends and reached out with my contact information. Five minutes later, he and I were on the phone together, many states in between us as he was in New England camping. We spent an hour pouring into each other with encouragement and the Word of God.
I was at our state fair recently and met a woman who was representing one of the other exhibitors. What began as small talk led to meeting her husband who asked me if I was sure that I know where I’m going after I die. I assured him that I am going to heaven and explained why. This couple runs a ministry out of their home, and I received an invitation to join them. Their organization and my own aspirations to reach people for Jesus open a very wide door to future collaboration spiritually and professionally. It’s a connection that otherwise might have been missed.
God puts people in our path that He wants us to impact in some way. He puts our feet exactly where He wants them, our own mission field to bring glory to His name. Love God. Love people (yes, introverts too; there’s a way). Serve the community. We can’t change the world overnight; but we never know when our conversations will have the power to change the course of somebody’s life, even if it’s our own.
How do we know it is safe to speak Jesus with people? I don’t. But I know that when I grab that ear, or they reach out to me, that God is sovereign over the conversation, and whatever happens after that is His divine arrangement. Let faith win over fear. You never know if the ear you reach for is about to change your life unless you try.
Christopher Turnbull 