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Pastor's Blog August 6, 2020
"The Work and Life III"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
I hear it all the time from Seventh-day Adventists: "Pastor, I don't know how to share my faith with others! Why don't we just leave the soul-winning to you?" If you're not a famous evangelist or a well-versed speaker, how do you share your faith? Our friend Ellen identifies two key points about how to share your faith.
First, Jesus' life demonstrates the kind of service that animates those who love him: "The greater part of our Saviour's life on earth was spent in patient toil in the carpenter's shop at Nazareth" ("Steps to Christ," 55; 1977 edition). Jesus practiced faithfulness to God and loving humility in every work he did, and exercised those virtues in every interaction he encountered; likewise, Jesus felt that every task he performed and every "job" he held was an opportunity to glorify God and help others know God's love better (55-56). Rather than thinking of "witnessing" or "sharing your faith" as an endeavor to convert someone to his way of thinking, Jesus showed us that he felt witnessing and sharing his faith were opportunities to encourage others and to meet their needs, as well as share with them the peace and love he experienced with his heavenly Father (56).
But the second point is where the rubber of Jesus' life touches the road of ours: "If the love of God is in the heart, it will be manifested in the life. The sweet savor of Christ will surround us, and our influence will elevate and bless" (56). Many Christians feel like they don't need to share their faith with others, because they are not gifted or talented enough - and therefore they never share Jesus with others (56)!
But you know what makes the difference in sharing Jesus with others? It's LOVE! If Jesus' love is in your heart, it will overflow in your desire to help others because you love them, and in your desire to share Jesus so that THEY are happy and blessed - not so that you can make converts to your beliefs (56-57). And if Jesus' love is not in your heart, you probably won't feel any pressing need to share him with others; or if you do, you'll only want to share information with them so you can add people to your group.
Friends, Jesus wants us to share him with others. And we'll only start sharing Jesus when we start urgently spending time with him so he can take full possession of our hearts.
(*) Steps to Christ, Chapter 9— The Work and Life, 1977 edition
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
