Day 35 - Following But Not Fishing

According to Dr. Bill Bright, who founded Campus Crusade for Christ, only about 2% of all Christians actually share the gospel with others on a regular basis. Others say it's about 7%. Still, that's really, really low. For too many years, I was part of the silent majority. A couple of years ago, the Lord convicted me about my silence. If I really believe God's word is true, then how could I remain silent about the greatest news in the world--that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His son (1 John 5:11-13). And how could I remain silent about the scariest news in the world--that those who reject The Way of Salvation will bear the full weight of God's just wrath on the day of judgment and face an eternity in a real place called hell (John 3:36; Matt. 5)? I began to pray for boldness like the believers in Acts. And God started to move.

I talked to two ladies this evening at a coffee shop. They professed to be believing "followers" of Jesus, affirming that they had repented and were trusting in Christ alone for salvation (Matt. 4:17). I shared how Jesus told his disciples to "follow me and I will teach you to fish for men (Matt. 4:19." I asked them if they were doing any fishing, and they admitted that they weren't. I gave them some extra gospel tracts and encouraged them to begin sharing with those who may not have a saving faith in the Lord, "because you can't take anything with you except others." And because He told us to fish. Fishermen go where the fish are. Jesus came to earth where we are. Fishermen cast in their carefully prepared lines and keep casting until they catch fish. When Jesus came from the wilderness in the power of the Spirit, "he began to preach and to say, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He began to cast out His "line" of truth to reach people with life-saving news and kept casting wherever He went, sowing seeds all along the way. We need to be going where the fish are and casting the truth out there every day, every opportunity the Lord brings our way. Nothing matters more.