‘I try to find common ground with everyone.’ 1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT

It’s easy to develop ‘spiritual amnesia’. You forget what you used to be like. And that attitude affects the people you deal with each day. Kelli Trujillo writes: ‘I’ve a workplace acquaintance who embodies all the negative stereotypes of evangelical Christians. She’s judgmental, her behaviour borders on bizarre, she’s completely (and purposefully) out of touch with culture. She considers any attempt to tone down her evangelism as persecution. None of us wants to be like that so we hop on the pendulum as it swings in the other direction and our efforts become so subtle, they’re imperceptible.’

How can we share our faith, while maintaining a high level of integrity?

(1) Ask sincere questions and listen with a caring spirit.

(2) When appropriate, tell others you’re praying for them—then do it!

(3) Pray driving to work and ask God to help you see your workplace as a mission field.

(4) Don’t downplay the importance of your faith. When it naturally fits a conversation, talk about church, prayer, Scripture, and Christian community. Let others see joy and purpose in your life.

(5) Demonstrate God’s love for all people by helping as a volunteer, not just church things but in your community too.

(6) Strive for excellence. Be the person that your manager and co–workers rely on to do a solid job.

(7) Invite co–workers to events with your Christian friends. Non–churchgoers are often open to going to church events, especially at Christmas or Easter.

(8) When you’re not sure about when to speak, check in with God and ‘say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.’ (Mark 13:11 NIV)

(9) Above all—maintain a humble attitude!

SoulFood: [bible passage=”Gen 7–9, Luke 6:17–26, Ps 104:24–35, Pro 3:11–12″ version=”esv” heading=”H3″]

Renungan Hari Ini [The Word for Today] is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘God had mercy on me.’ 1 Timothy 1:15 NLT

If you want to win people to Christ, you won’t do it with a holier–than–thou attitude. Sadly, this is how society sees many Christians; their hearts are in the right place, but their ability to relate with compassion to those outside their immediate group of friends does God no favours. If you want people to respond to the Gospel, take a leaf from Paul’s book. He said: ‘Though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ… When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew… When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law… When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness… I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.’ (1 Corinthians 9:19–22NLT)

Now before you think Paul was soft on sin, he adds: ‘But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. I do everything to spread the Good News.’ (1 Corinthians 9:21–22NLT)

Paul could relate to unbelievers without endorsing their lifestyle because he remembered what he himself was like before God transformed him on the Damascus road. Having received God’s grace himself meant Paul could write: ‘“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners.’ (1 Timothy 1:15–16NLT)

Today, remember what you used to be like.

SoulFood: [bible passage=”Gen 4–6, Luke 6:1–16, Ps 104:1–23, Pro 3:9–10″ version=”esv” heading=”H3″]

Renungan Hari Ini [The Word for Today] is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©