“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Make Jesus’ last command our first priority”. This is the reason that many Christians support this ministry. It is because we want to see the lost of this world come to know our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, before I was blessed with the privilege of membership, there was an evening I visited two homes. The first was to a family in complete disarray and grief – a family member had just taken his own life. Straight from there I was sent to a home in an affluent part of the city. Hollywood actors were enjoying some “chill out” time after a long day of shooting. I had nothing to offer them – no Bibles, no tracts – absolutely nothing. I was pretty annoyed with myself. Maxwell Smart would have made the excuse, “Missed by that much!”
Everyday opportunities are present to help people come to know Christ and help them on their journey to know Him. It’s amazing how often there are “divine appointments” whenever we start the day praying for an “open door”, asking the Lord to provide an opportunity to share the Gospel.
I used to know a lady patient who became a real blessing to me. She had a very deep faith in God, had been through a considerable amount of trauma and was seriously ill for a long, long time. She shared with me stories about her family, the community where she grew up and the struggles her people faced. She taught me much about faith in Christ and perseverance. Every time we met, she would ask for a Testament for a friend or a family member. Because of extremely poor eyesight, she was unable to read. One day she told me her son’s teenage friend had been reading the Testament to her and requested a copy for himself. That day, I was unprepared and had no copies available. The following week that young man took his own life.
“Everyday opportunities are present to help people come to know Christ…”
With Christmas around the corner there is a massive opportunity to reach the lost, to reach those who are questioning their purpose for being. The lockdowns and changing world has provided many fertile hearts in our nation. I believe where we live and our time in history is for a purpose.
“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.” Acts 17:26-27
We strongly encourage you to prayerfully order a box or two of Friends Testaments and be prayerful each day for opportunities to share with others. As you experience the blessing of daily “divine appointments” share those stories with the rest of us, so that we can be joyful together.
With Christmas around the corner, consider giving a Testament and a Gideon card as a gift. (There’s nothing wrong with wrapping it up with some shortbread!) We all have family members, children, grandchildren, cousins, neighbours, work colleagues who do not love the Lord Jesus. It may well be that we are the only ones sent by the Lord to share with them the gift of Christ. Let’s not one day stand before the Chief and make the excuse, “Missed by that much!”