True friendship is God's calling, in and of itself. If people find friendship with Jesus through our friendship with them, that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come, p. 99
If we cultivate relationships with non-believers solely for the purpose of converting them, then we are not doing the work of God. We are doing the work of God a disservice. We must care about people because they are important to God, whether they acknowledge him or not. True friends are not manipulative and scheming.
If God is at work in our lives, we don't need to orchestrate "opportunities" to "share Christ."
If we are living lives that require explanation, there will be plenty of opportunities.
If we are serious disciples of Jesus Christ, our lives will proclaim the gospel more powerfully than any prepackaged presentation.
Of course,
- if we don't really know God
- if we are not producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives
- if we aren't willing to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses every day, and to follow Jesus as serious disciples
then maybe we'd better work on our sales techniques.
Pastor Rod
"Helping You Become the Person God Created You to Be"
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