In a World Where Hell Keeps Laughing…Speak Life

---

“God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.”

George Whitefield

---

I realized something awful the other day. The first Monday of October, to be exact.

I was sitting on my bed, praying for a friend, when I realized I had not engaged the world outside “my” life in gospel conversations for three months.

Three months of silence between me and the world outside of my family, my school, my work, my church. Three months.

Now, granted, I have talked about Jesus with other friends, my mentor, my disciple, my coworkers, some of which are already Christ-followers, and others which are not. But I had not initiated a conversation with a random soul, intended towards gospel conversation, since my youth group went to Canada in July.

In fact, I had not even mentioned Jesus to a stranger.

For three months.

Just writing that makes my stomach turn.

As I realized this, that recent Monday, I sat on my bed for quite a while more, wondering what on earth I had been doing with my life in all those weeks. Yes, I had invested in other people. And yes, I had grown spiritually. Yes, I had engaged God’s word and purpose for my life. And those were (and are) all wonderful things!

But how many interactions did I miss out on because I was too scared, too lazy, too shy, or perhaps worst of all, too forgetful…to mention Jesus?

The thought still sickens me.

Because those are three months that I must explain to God when I stand before the throne one day. Three months I must lay before His feet and say “yes…I said hello to that lady in the store, and I saw that teen sitting all by himself on the side of the road. But no…no, I didn’t mention You to them. It wasn’t the first thing on my mind at that moment.”

I hate that reality.

And as you look on your past weeks and consider similar missed opportunities…I genuinely hope you hate it too.

Because there are weary souls out there, longing for someone to tell them of something good.

So, dear Christian, in a world where hell keeps laughing…speak life.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

– Psalm 4:6

“Speaking Life” Doesn’t Add to Your Schedule, it Enhances Your Schedule

Taking the time to speak life into a weary soul, by sharing gospel truths in a broken world, does not have to dramatically change your schedule. Can it? Absolutely! But does it have to? I don’t personally think so.

Let me explain.

I talked to a dear, elderly lady in the park two weeks ago.

Her name is Anna. She was a nurse in her “younger” years, served in a homeless shelter in San Francisco, believes pleasing God is most important, doesn’t like to ponder heaven or hell much, enjoys quiet restaurants hidden on street corners, likes shopping at Goodwill, has a sister in law that says [Anna] talks too much, has the most beautiful blue eyes, and holds to a unique mix of beliefs including the Eastern Orthodox Church, the New Age Theory, and the Fellowship of Saint Moses the Black. She is in her eighties and hasn’t ever had a stranger stop to talk to her about Jesus before our conversation.

I found all of that out in fifteen minutes.

I also met a single mom named Denice. Her best friend is no longer alive, she is divorced, she served in the navy, and she wonders why God allows for certain things to happen in certain orders. She is scared to get married because of past divorce, she is worried about her kids’ afterschool program negatively affecting them, she loves pesto, and she’s been living in a hotel for the past three months because of flooding in her home. She is in her twenties and, like Ms. Anna, has never had a stranger stop to talk to her about Jesus before.

I found all of that out in nine minutes.

These interactions did not dramatically impact my schedule. In fact, I was already at a park with my mom and little sister. I would have been in the exact same situation either way, with the only difference being I would have left with a less valuable experience had I not engaged in those conversations.

Our lights can burn so much more brightly when we are simply more intentional with our time. While we’re executing our busy schedules…look for the opportunities to speak life.

Your Actions Matter, but Your Words Explain Them

I do not know anything that would wake up Chicago better than for every man and woman here who loves Him to begin to talk about Him to their friends, and just to tell them what He has done for you. You have got a circle of friends. Go and tell them of Him.

– Dwight L. Moody

At some point we have to open our mouths and say something.

You know the phrase “actions speak louder than words”? I think sometimes Christians use that to make themselves feel better about not talking about Jesus. And, while the phrase is true, it is also true that people will generally not know the reason or intent behind your actions unless you’re talking about your beliefs too. Our actions and words should verify each other in our testimonies.

I recently heard someone describe a member of their church as “a woman who mentions Jesus in every conversation.” I don’t think anything could be more beautiful. How I want this to be true of my life. That, if I died tomorrow, everyone at my funeral would be able to say, “I didn’t talk to her one time without hearing her mention Jesus.”

Wouldn’t that be such a powerful testimony?

The truth is, we all have people in our lives who we are regularly interacting with. (And if you don’t, maybe it’s time for you to get out and engage the lost of the world.) The people in our lives are people we have the opportunity to speak life into.

Whether Christian or not, everyone around us is in need of Jesus. We cannot save them, but we do have the responsibility of continually pointing them to the One who can.

Speak up. Speak life.

We Don’t have Time for “What-ifs” – Speak Life Every Chance You Get

There are no easy steps to witnessing! No painless, un-embarrassing methods! You must bring men to see that they are filthy sinners under the wrath of God who must flee to Christ for mercy. That is offensive. And there is no way to coat it with honey.

– Walter J. Chantry

Wouldn’t it be simply delightful if the church today started to live so radically for Jesus that the rest of the world wondered at the obsessive-like behavior? When did Christianity get so normalized? What happened to the lovely uniqueness of the church and its “odd” way of approaching the world?

I want to see that again.

What would happen if we completely embraced the awkwardness of sharing the gospel, and spoke life every chance we had?

Where would the world be?

Obviously, this is much easier said than done. So, below are a few ideas for initiating conversations whether with strangers or in relationships you’re already investing in. If you’ve found something to be helpful or impactful in your experiences, do share them in the comments or in an email! I’d love to hear about them, and I’m sure others would too.

1.Come up with a school assignment, survey, or experiment that you can relate to gospel conversations. You can introduce yourself as someone with the intent of working on those projects and ask if they would be willing to help. If they agree, the conversation is started, and the ball is in your court. Don’t be shy in your questions or statements, but be kind. 1 Peter 3:15 says we should always be ready to share “the reason for the hope that is in us,” but that we should be able to do so with “gentleness and respect.”

2.If you’re an introvert, like me, use it to your advantage! In one of my recent conversations, I introduced myself by saying “hi! I’m an introvert who’s trying to practice engaging in conversations better. Would you be willing to have a random conversation with me?” From there we talked about all kinds of things, and it was easy to incorporate questions about religion and the gospel after a couple minutes of small-talk. This is now one of my favorites because it makes the individual giggle at the humorous request, and it makes them feel valuable by helping me with something in the process.

3.Ask people if you can pray for/with them. This can be applied in almost any situation. From waiters/waitresses, to teachers, coworkers, grocers, etc. If they say yes, you can pray with them and maybe even try to engage in some further conversations. If they say no, you can just smile, kindly say “okay, well, I hope you have a lovely day,” and move on.

4.Ask people how they are…truly. One of the most precious things, I think, is when someone asks, “how are you” and then after the individual responds, they say “okay, that’s good. But how are you?” Most of the time when people hear the question “how are you?” they immediately think to respond with words like “okay,” “fine,” or “good.” There are few times when people are honest enough to say, “I’ve had a terrible day, everything is overwhelming me, and I don’t know how to handle it.” So, when you ask someone how they’re doing…ask it because you really care. And out of that genuine care…ask them again. Just in case.

5.Relate their story to your story…and your story to God’s story. This is one of my favorite things in conversations. It’s a little uncomfortable sometimes, but it’s easy, it’s simple, and it often works smoothly. When someone opens up about life circumstances – good or bad – try to relate it to a time in your life. Do not fall into the trap of trying to “outdo” them in your traumas or victories – people don’t need that. But be honest and vulnerable about your hills and valleys. If you’ve truly experienced God in your life, talk about it. Just tell your story as it is, and don’t shy away from the uncomfortable parts. Aim to magnify God, not yourself. Because in doing so you’re encouraging the other person to do the same.  

6.Be the weirdo that’s literally obsessed with God. Instead of noting the lovely weather, note God’s handiwork in creation. Pray about small things…missing keys, broken phones, focus on a test, etc. Don’t stop talking about Him. You’ll be surprised what it can do, not only in others’ lives, but in your life.

7.Just ask. At some point you just have to speak up. Invite your coworker to church. Ask the lady in the park if she knows Jesus. Ask your neighbor what he thinks about God. Just ask. Because you don’t know what the answer will be until you simply ask.

And while these are often unnatural and uncomfortable, remember that “God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self control” (2 Timothy 1:7). What harm does a little embarrassment do anyways? Our lives on this earth are too short to worry about our own glory.

It’s not about us. It’s all about Him.

Speak life.

If We Want to Speak Life Radically, We Need to Love Radically (And Vice Versa)

If you really love those around you, their salvation should be ever on your mind. I have been constantly convicted of this, and I hope the same is true for you. Because no matter how kind I am or how loving I am or how many people consider me a “safe place” …I can’t save them.

I have to speak life.

I have to tell of the One who came to redeem and restore our weary, broken world.

This should be a battle we wake up daily to engage. This afternoon, I was thinking about what a difference we could make if we simply prayed for our unsaved friends every time we thought of them. Just imagine! If you think of your unsaved friend(s) even just once an hour…that’s at least twelve prayers a day.

Really, my challenge to myself, and you likewise, is that I would love those around me better. Because if I truly love them with Christ’s heart…I will not be able to bear the thought of holding back words of life.

So, dear Christian, in a world where death runs rampant, fear holds millions captive, and endless eyes are blind…

In a world where hell keeps laughing…

Will you speak life?