Choices

Unfortunately, we all know friends who do not believe. So how do we help them find Jesus? I only wish there were three easy steps to evangelism but it isn’t that simple. Perhaps for some it’s not that they do not understand the words but the Risen Lord Jesus is not real to them. I suggest that the first step is to request them to ask the tough questions in prayer to God…and listen.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8.

 I’m not a person who accepts spontaneous conversion… rather the Holy Spirit works in the heart until someone decides to seek God. The seeds of faith may be planted years before the conversion. John Wesley described prevenient grace as “…the drawing of us to the Father, the light of the Son, and the work of the Spirit in convicting us of sin.”¹ His grace is available to all, it even precedes our action to seek God, and ultimately provides our route to salvation…but as Wesley contends, faith requires a personal choice, it is our free will to seek God.

When Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower to His disciples it includes an explanation of the harsh reality that all may not be saved. It is important to note that those who seek God and accept His blessings are those with the good heart who hear the word and “hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.”

 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. ¹⁴ As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁵ But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. Luke 8:4-18.

 Our efforts to introduce our family and friends to Jesus begins with a patient approach built on a strong caring relationship. They need to see the Holy Spirit working in us. We learn to trust the words of those who love and care for us. As Christians, we are called to live a right example, create a healthy home environment, and seek a safe community culture to allow the seeds of faith to sprout and bear fruit. A plentiful garden is not created in the first season rather through years of nourishing and tending to allow the soil to support a bountiful harvest.

Jesus explains the difficulties and challenges in evangelism. The packed earthen path depicts the hardened hearts described in the prophecy of Isaiah. “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”² These are people who can’t open their hearts and accept His truth or love. They harbor bitterness, regret, and envy pushing away His redeeming grace. Their blindness prevents them from seeing the life that God provides for the faithful. The birds represent the devil that quickly devours the promise of Jesus. But not all is lost for the harden hearts, if they listen and turn toward Jesus, “I would heal them.”³

 The rocky soil represents the people that immediately believe and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. They grasp that Jesus is the light and a pathway to the Father. But these same people allow the challenges of the world to rob them of the love of Christ. They shirk from His Word challenged by social persecution, “Are you really going to tell me you are now a Christian?” The shallow roots in rocky soil may reflect on the family environment void of the teachings of Christ. If children are not brought up in the faith how can they have deep roots of faith?

The last soil type describes the earth overgrown with thorns and weeds. For “these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” Perhaps this phrase describes so much of our society today vested in a “me- now consumer-oriented market environment” choked by the care, riches and pleasures of life. This last classification presents the greatest danger to Christians allowing the pleasures of a modern world to disrupt a relationship with our Lord and Savior.

I am of the mind that we are all faith farmers for Jesus. Luke explains in his closing words of the of the parable, “¹⁵ But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.” I enjoy the term “patient endurance” suggesting that when we come to Jesus it is not the end of the journey but the beginning. We are shaped, sustained, loved, and taught over the rest of our years as children of a loving God.

As author Mike Glenn writes, “The journey is a little easier when you’re walking with a friend.”⁴ We are sustained when we are in fellowship and service with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have many hands willing to help in pulling the thorns and weeds. We can engage in activities in the church inviting others into our Christian lives. We can replace worldly distractions with service to our church or to a neighbor. Creating the bountiful soil in our community takes many hands on the plough. As a church we represent a community of faithful tilling and sowing each day with the Holy spirit reaping a healthy harvest. We can play an essential role in guiding people to the right choice.

Prayer: Jesus keep our hands steady on the plough serving your church, our family, and our neighbors. Help us to be patient, loving, and supportive faith farmers praying, serving, and caring. Help us to constantly seek Your grace and presence. We make this prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

1 John Wesley’s sermon “The Scripture Way of Salvation.”

2 John 12:40. (John records the words of Jesus as he responds to the prophecy of Isaiah.)

3 Isaiah 6:9-10.

4 https://mikeglennonline.com

The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors and Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor.