How much different would today look to you if you knew that you only had today to tell someone about Jesus? If we literally started our day by saying to God, "I know that you have someone for me to reach today, and today may be my only chance I get to do it...so lead me to them." Would that make today have a completely different feel to you than any other day this week? But better yet, let me ask you this...why aren't we thinking that way?
Every decision we make today could lead us to someone that God wants us to witness to, or away from them. I don't say that to lay some huge pressure on your shoulders. But I do say it to bring a little bit of reality into the picture. Sometimes we can become so consumed by our own world, our own goals, even our own issues, that we forget that God put us here to tell others about what He has done for us in our own lives. And the reason we may only have today to do it isn't necessarily because we may not have tomorrow on this earth (even though that is a realistic possibility), but it might because either they won't, or God lined up this encounter because you are never going to have an audience in front of this person again. Yep, that might actually mean that God would have us witness to, or reach out to, a perfect stranger. I mean, if God could use Moses to set an entire nation free, then yeah He might just use you today to set one person free.
If you know even the smallest thing about the bible, then you know that one of things we are told to do is "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation..."(the great commission). But please don't buy into the lie that this is a "job" for everyone else. This is not just for the pastors or the leaders of the church. This was for you and me! This was Jesus telling us to make this a part of our daily lives...a part of who we are. One day at a time, one person at a time....but go reach people!
The other day a pastor I love to listen to was talking about getting outside of ourselves. And I guess my word today goes right along with that. I want to encourage you to ask God to help you actually see past yourself today and think, "who is the one person that I only have today to reach?" And then ask Him to prepare your mind, your heart and even your words for that encounter. Because if there is one thing I can promise you about God, it's this....If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. That phrase has a lot packed into it, but part of Him bringing you through it is because you have spent the time with Him allowing Him to prepare you for "it"....mentally, spiritually and even physically preparing you for whatever He has for you to do. Just like I have quoted before in past blogs....on an airline they will always tell you, "in the event of an accident, put on your oxygen mask first before you help someone else". Why is this? Because you can ONLY help them, when you yourself are prepared to offer help. So be prepared...and the go help someone today!
God, please prepare us today to be able to offer help to others. Fill us up emotionally and spiritually to be able to give away what has been given to us...the hope, the love, and the chance to live forgiven and free for the trap of sin. Holy Spirit help us step outside of ourselves today and look for the opportunities You have for us to witness to someone....then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do so. Help us to have the mindset that reaching even one person today IS going out into the world to preach Your good news. In Jesus name, Amen
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