Time to Share

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."        Acts 17:16-20


           Paul did not like what he saw around him and was moved by the Spirit to start to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around him.   Paul spoke with Jews and Greeks alike; telling them about Jesus.   He didn't pick and choose.  He told anyone who would listen.  And listen they did.    They asked him what he was saying.... As a whole they were interested in what he was telling them.   
            Not everyone who listened to what Paul had to say, went on to accept Jesus as Savior,  but some did.  Paul did not have the ability to sway anyone's hearts.  He was the messenger.  He put the information out there and God worked in the hearts of those whom He called.  After all, God is the only one who can change a man's heart.
           God has asked us all to go out there and share the good news.  He wants us to tell others about Jesus.  He wants us to share how Jesus has changed our lives.   When we talk about what we know we tend to be passionate about it.  It is this passion that gets peoples attention and causes them to want to listen.   We can't make them believers.  We can't convert them.  We can only share the word and pray that God will work in their hearts. We (like Paul before us) are the messengers.   God is the one who works the magic in peoples hearts.  Not all whom we share with will come to accept Jesus as Savior, but some will.  The key is that we MUST share the news if God is giving us a heart for that.   
          In my church we are having a bible study about end time prophecy.  It is quite interesting.   It looks like some of the prophecies have already come to pass.  It looks like others will soon follow.   God has told us that no man will know when that will be... So no matter what is happening in the world, we know that we are heading that way, we don't know when.....   
        I have never been that interested in sharing about Jesus before... I always felt that God would just work in someone's heart if He wanted them.   I never wanted to appear to be trying to "convert" anyone for fear that I would push them further away from the truth.  But I am feeling a sense of urgency.   I feel that God is saying it is time to be bold.  To go out and share the word with others.   Just share.   I get the sense that I don't have to be pushy.  That even if I just share that "this is what I believe God is doing in my life",  and if I share that "this is what I believe even if it is not what you believe, and I just wanted you to know where I am coming from..."
        During the past several months God has given me an opportunity to discuss my beliefs in God and Jesus in a private conversation with each member of my family.  Amazingly each of them actually brought up the subject (or said something that made the time seem right for me to bring it up).   I prefaced it with a claim that although I would like for them to believe what I believe, I would not push it on them as I would not want to make them run defensively away...  the conversations went well.  They listened.  They agreed with some of the points that I made.  They did not instantly accept Jesus as their Savior.  But the seed has been planted.  I pray that God will use that seed to change their hearts.  
         I think that this is what God is calling us to do.  Much as Paul did.  Plant the seed.  Spread the Good News.  And then sit back and pray our lil hearts out... and let Him do His thing in their hearts....
         Dear Lord, as You have said; we don't know the time or place for Your return.  We know that things are looking like we're getting closer to that time.   Many of us feel an urgency to spread the Good News about You to those around us.  Please guide us and help us to listen to Your still quiet voice inside us.... Give us the words to say, and the humility to say them in love.   And please please please give those to whom we share an open heart so that they will at least listen to what we tell them.... and then help us to walk away knowing that we have done all we can.... and then please do Your thing....  Thanks for letting us help... and thanks for how You work it all out.... Thanks for having our back!