Reach out and touch someone



Remember that old AT&T commercial that encouraged us to reach out and touch someone?  That's actually something I've been working on, and I'm not talking about making long distance phone calls.

I've been reading 3 great books lately, all on different topics, but all hitting on this theme.  (Could it be God's trying to tell me something?)  In Radical by David Platt he challenges believers to spend at least 2% of their time (about 1 week per year) sharing the gospel with others.  Two percent is so little, not even a tithe, but do we do that? Do we really spend 2% of our time sharing Christ with the lost?  Do we even spend 2% of our time talking about God, His mighty acts, His always new mercies, or His all-sufficient Word?

Dan Cruver says that "missional living is not directionless living.  Missional Christians daily fix their eyes on the climax of God's work of adoption- God's renewed heavens and earth."  (Reclaiming Adoption p. 14)  In other words, they live each day in light of eternity.  Or in the words of the apostle Paul, "redeeming the time".  (Eph 5:12a)

And finally, I've been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  This book is so what I've needed right now.  She's inspired me to slow down and live in each moment instead of hurrying and rushing through life, always onto the next thing, but never fully living in the moment that just slipped away.

Part of what I've taken away from these books is that I want to be intentional in my relationships with people- even those that I only brush up against in passing.  My mom and I were talking about this just the other day.  How do you bypass the small talk and cut right to matters of substance?  I have to reveal something of myself to you at this point, since you have no way of knowing.  I'm an introvert.  I mean I'm really introverted.  I used to say I wasn't a people person, until I realized how offensive that must be to God.  Not being a people person is not an option for the believer.  My idea of heaven on earth is reading a good book in a hot bath while drinking a cup of hot cocoa.  Then when that book is finished I want to read another one, and so on.  Let's just say that when I took the MMSE to prove I was sane enough to adopt, I was barely sane enough.  The shrink's exact words were, "for a woman with a PhD in a laboratory science, you're normal."  Oh well, at least I passed.  I mean, you're either crazy or you're not, right?  And I'm not.  All that by way of saying, this isn't easy for me.  I have to intentionally pull myself out of whatever thought is going through my mind, and focus on the person in front of me.

Yesterday as I was on my way to the grocery store, I decided it would be the perfect testing grounds.  The nice young man who was bagging my groceries was not unfamiliar to me.  He's bagged my groceries many times.  He's always interested in talking about video games and I usually ignore him while politely nodding.  Yesterday though I knew I had to break through the video game chit chat to something more meaningful.  Guess what?  God must have a sense of humor because once I got this guy talking about the Bible, I couldn't shut him up.  That's right, my big attempt at sharing the gospel with "the man on the street" had a surprising twist.  He's already a believer.  You know what?  I'm so glad to know that.  I really enjoyed our conversation and would MUCH rather talk with someone about God's Word than video games!  And his prayer partner is the other bagger that I've talked with about spiritual things (this one's a retired minister).  Maybe I need to find a different grocery store : ).

The point is, I really want to share Christ with others and I know this is from the Lord.  I'm excited about what He's doing in my heart and praying for the courage to be obedient to this all important call.

What are you doing to reach out and touch someone?

Now I'm off to that hot bath, book, and cocoa I've been waiting all day for.