I was chatting with my younger sister Annie on Line (our free texting app) and I asked her the simple but multi-faceted question, "what is God teaching you right now?" She sent me an e-mail with her answer:
At the Passion conference, I felt convicted to be more verbal about my faith, so I began to more expressive to my friends how my faith played a role in my life. In conversation I began to bring it up. I didn't get the response I wanted (excitement and acceptance); instead, I received rejection and separation because I wanted to give biblical answers rather than worldly answers. Even though I faced this rejection, I know that God used my words for a purpose because my friend listened to what I had to say. I know that I have to persevere in relationships because we are not suppose to live in a Christian bubble. God wants to use us to reach out to non-Christians. God reaches the 'unreachable' because he changes hearts. Even though we may think that a person will never turn from their sinful ways, God never gives up on His children. I now just want to keep shining as a light on campus and I want to use my words to bring others to Christ! It's not easy though because I doubt my biblical knowledge and fear that I will say the wrong things.It is my joy and privilege to see how Annie is growing and maturing in her faith. She texted me on Sunday morning to tell me how excited she was that one of her good friends had just become a Christian. I think seeing how a relationship with God has changed Annie into a different, other-centered person had a lot to do with her friend's decision to accept Christ.
I am so proud of my sister for her boldness in stepping outside the Christian bubble (so pervasive among college-age Christians) and speaking truth and life into her lost friends' lives. Something Annie has realized that a lot of Christians in the US forget is that it's not just the duty of missionaries to share the gospel. Rather, it's the duty of Christians to be missionaries wherever you are--a college campus, your house, a big company, Bangkok. Wherever, seriously.
Many of us share Annie's insecurities about feeling like we don't know enough or might put our feet in our mouths. But according to some wise words I found here, "the gospel isn’t just about knowing or doing the right things, it’s about trusting in Jesus and what he did, and thereby living the full and joyous life we were created to live. What makes the gospel unique—what makes it “good news”—is that it’s not telling us how to reach up to grab hold of God, but it’s about God reaching down to grab hold of us! This good news is simple enough for a child to understand and deep enough that it takes more than a lifetime to fully comprehend it. As people who God has grabbed a hold of, we try to live in ways that please him, humbly, imperfectly, always seeking to grow and be changed so that we’re more like him. To do this, we pay close attention to living what the Bible teaches, since we see it as a wonderful gift that shows us what life as God intended it looks like. We don’t do this to earn God’s love, but because we’re thankful for his love!"
If you'd like to read a really good, solid book that might help you get more of a grip on what it is that you're sharing, check out Greg Gilbert's What is the Gospel?
Love you lil sis. I can't wait to see what God does in your life.
