It’s nearly 2:30am. I’ve had a long nap today, and so I’m not exactly sleepy. My wife is sleeping soundly on the couch before me, and some couple on HGTV is about to pay waayyy too much for an old house in a coveted neighborhood. I need sorbet.
But amidst all the available distractions, my mind keeps coming back to this theme: evangelism. More specifically, I’m pondering why it is I don’t share the gospel more often. Why don’t I share it every chance I get? Why don’t I create opportunities for sharing more consistently? What else have I got to talk about?
My wife and I once owned a direct sales business with a multi-level marketing component. Yeah… I know. But at least it wasn’t Amway and we did learn a great deal. One thing we learned was to step out of our proverbial comfort zone and tell people about the business, to invite them to consider the business opportunity for themselves. We did that rather well for a while. And in an interesting sort of way, we’re sure the Lord used that experience to teach us to “step out” and share the gospel, to overcome our fear of man.
But, I can’t say I’m all that thrilled about my current efforts. And as I look to the coming life as a senior pastor, my concern is that I’ll actually have fewer opportunities to interact significantly with non-Christians. I assume that my main evangelistic activity will largely occur through preaching, but I don’t want to be satisfied with that. I want and need a good plan.
But there’s still the “why” of my evangelistic duldrums. Why am I not doing more already?
I think I need to deepen my love for the Savior and the Good News of the Savior. I think I need to contemplate more deeply the majesty, person, and work of our Lord. I also need to think more deeply and pray more fervently about the perishing souls that surround me. I can’t say I consistently view people the way Jesus views them. My valuation of their souls is too low. I think I lack urgency. I think I “trust in God’s sovereignty” in the wrong way at times. I need to repent.
Two hours later, here’s my initial plan:
- Meet the neighbors and schedule dinner with them in the first 30 days.
- Pray for opportunities and a ready mind.
- Find a new barber (a bro. needs a cut), preferrably one with decent skills but not a Christian.
- Phone the brother of a friend who lives on the island and is not a believer. Do lunch.
- Pray that the Lord would send laborers into the harvest and for friends on the field.
- Think through an initial strategy for training and encouraging others in evangelism.
- Adjust my reading plan to focus more intently on the Savior and the gospel (I’d welcome recommendations).
- Pick up those two biographies I’ve been neglecting (The Life and Diary of David Brainerd and To the Golden Shore).
- Pray, pray, pray for a fervent spirit and abiding love for the lost.
What am I missing?
The Lord has seen fit to give us the great privilege of proclaiming the Good News to those who are perishing. What a humbling and weigthy privilege it is! It’s good and right that I’m up tonight unable to sleep in view of those who for eternity will suffer an eternal agony.
I want FBC to take this island with the gospel. I’m praying the Lord would be pleased to use us not only on the island but in the wider Caribbean and to advance His kingdom worldwide. I feel my poverty and my need for His divine aid.
It’s 3:00am. I’m gonna try to sleep now.
