Encouragement, Witnessing
Share Your Faith
We’ve been told to never talk about politics or religion. Too often even believers have believed and heeded that bad advice. Maybe you feel nervous about sharing your faith. Because your role to as a soul winner is so important let’s look at what Jesus said about it. Let me begin with a story.
Maybe I’m talking to people that love to fish or maybe you are like me and it’s not even on your radar! I have never hung up the “Gone Fishing” sign on my door. Whether you love fishing or hate it I think this lesson will encourage you to do something Jesus loves.
Do you love fishing?
While I remember fishing with my dad when I was a little girl, for whatever reason I haven’t fished much. Wayne has a few rods and reels somewhere in the garage, so we could go fishing. I’ve put corn on a hook hanging from a cane pole and dropped it in the lake at the cabin a few times, but other than that I haven’t fished in years and years.
Behind My Son’s House
In the back of my son’s house is a retention pond that holds rainwater runoff. It is required for every community in Florida. It’s big enough to sit on the back porch and enjoy the beautiful view.
Can we?
One day his teenage daughter asked him if they could fish in the retention pond. No dad in their right mind is going to pass up an opportunity to spend time with his daughter.
He purchased a cheap rod and reel and borrowed his daddy’s rods until he could buy his own equipment.
Surprised!
Surprised doesn’t come close to describing my shock when Jason began to send us pictures of his catch from that retention pond. He described his absolute ecstasy as those big boys danced on the water trying to spit out the hook.
Again and again, he caught bigger and bigger fish.
Months ago, he asked us to come stay with the kids while he and his wife went out of town on a business trip.
I had to try it.
First day I was there my granddaughter tied a rubber worm on my line and handed me a rod and reel. When she watched me try to cast with the reel upside down, she gave me some fishing instructions.
She was a good teacher. I was a lousy student. I was doing everything wrong. It was funny to watch me and we both laughed at my inept fishing skills.
But on about the 3rd cast
(that actually went in the water), as soon as the worm hit the water something grabbed it and began to run. I gasped and began to wind in the line. When I pulled the fish closer to the shore, it danced on its tail on top of the water, just like all the fisherman talk about!
Still, in spite of the fact that I didn’t know what I was doing…I pulled that big fish to the bank. We didn’t think we would catch anything so nobody had brought the fish net out of the house. Someone ran inside and grabbed it and helped me get it out of the water.
As quick as we could we took a picture and released him back into the retention pond.
Wow! Now I am the one that is hooked!!!!
I can’t believe I shared that picture. (I started my diet, already!)
It was awesome! Did I say awesome, I should have said AWESOME!!!
I am so glad that I didn’t
wait until I knew everything I need to know before I actually went fishing.
My son’s excitement hooked me.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t seen my son’s enthusiasm. Or if I hadn’t seen his picture of those big fish. Really, in the retention pond.
I’m reeling you in.
Yes, I know you know this already, I’m reeling you in, because Jesus made a statement to a fisherman that has been burning in my heart lately…for weeks actually.
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 BSB
Corrie ten Boom’s book
“Plenty for Everyone” stays on my desk. I’ve been preparing for a “Signs and Wonders Camp” at my church and there is a story in the book that I plan to use.
I planned to glance through the book to find the story, but almost every page was a word picture of her “fishing for men” AND CATCHING THEM, so I had to slow down and enjoy the beauty of soul winning that she painted in the pages of that book.
- Glorious pictures!
- Rich people.
- Poor people.
- Broken people.
- Hard hearted people.
- Hungry people.
- Churched people.
- People that had no idea they need Jesus.
She was a soul winner,
a witness for Jesus
she shared her faith everywhere she went…
I don’t even know the current proper name for it…but whatever you call it she did it because she was in love with Jesus.
When we fall in love with Jesus, we begin to care about the things He cares about.
It’s important advice.
Follow Jesus.
He will make us fishers of men.
1 Timothy 2:3,4 BSB 3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
He desires that everyone be saved…
you and I have a role to play in that.
Jesus said, I am the light of the world.
John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
I don’t walk in darkness now!
I am so thankful!!! Sooo thankful.
John 9:5
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
But in John 5:18 Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.”
John 5:18 BSB You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Did you catch that? (Pun intended)
You…YOU are the light of the world.
I am so glad I didn’t wait
until I knew everything about fishing to fish.
What is keeping us from sharing our faith?
Sometimes we don’t share our faith because we don’t feel qualified. (I wasn’t qualified to fish when I caught that big fish.)
Are we are afraid we will offend someone?
It’s time to step up and share our faith out of a heart filled with God’s love and trust God to help us.
Yes, there are tools to help you…find them.
Use them.
Begin with sharing what Jesus has done for you.
But please don’t wait until you know everything about witnessing to witness.
You have been given a helper.
Precious Holy Spirit
Corrie ten Boom in this Soul Winner’s Manuel says “It is such a joy to know that we do not work alone but that it is the Holy Spirit who works with us as His tools.”
It is the Holy Spirit…
who is willing to give us the right words and Scripture references. If we depend on Him we are like branches of the vine which bear fruit but from which no fruit can ever grow if they are detached or broken off from the vine.
The world has grown increasing dark…it’s time for us, for you to shine.
I got a great resource to share with you.
I am using a wonderful app on my phone that gives me the names of my neighbors, a prayer to pray for them.
