Matthew 10:40-42
“We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My husband and I went shopping for a used car this week. You can learn a lot about life – and even Christian witness – from used car salespeople! There are those who seem to appear from nowhere as soon as your car hits their lot. They pounce on you like vultures… “What can I show you? What do you think about this one? How much were you planning to spend? What don’t you like?”
Then there are those who amble over as you peer into the window of a vehicle, stick out their hand and say, “Welcome! I’m here if you need me or have any questions, but otherwise, I’ll just let you look around.” They step back and let you look…kick the tires… and maybe unlock a door or two for you to take a peek inside. In other words, they start small. They don’t throw everything on the table all at once… they let you look and think and absorb the situation in manageable doses.
Now, who do you think you would rather buy a car from… the pushy salesperson who tries to cram his/her product down your throat… or the laidback, patient one who shows you hospitality and almost acts like you are doing them a favor by visiting their establishment?
It’s the same with our Christian witness. If we approach people with an all-out, “you’ve-got-to-believe-in-Jesus-like-I-do-or-you’ll-go-to-hell” attitude or demeanor, we will not be welcome… nor will our message. Nobody wants to be coerced or made to feel inferior. Think about people you know who are “preachy” and pious… those who are always ready to tell you that your real problem is that you don’t know Jesus… or at least you don’t know Him like they do! These are the ones who are always talking about “Christian” behavior while acting anything BUT “Christian” themselves. How open are you to their message? Are these people truly welcome in your life… or are they merely tolerated, at best?
I think of all of the people I know who go about their lives with a quiet, peaceful confidence… making occasional references to their faith and how God has blessed them… but more importantly, busy loving others and caring about them in ways great and small. I am so inspired and motivated by how they conduct themselves… how they handle crises… their inner strength and their outer goodness. THIS is the hospitality of Jesus in action! These are the people I welcome with open arms and with whom I desire fellowship! Theirs is the example I wish to follow and emulate. In other words, I want some of what they have!
Which camp are you in? What sort of “salesperson” for Jesus are you… a pushy, know-it-all… or one who exudes hospitality and offers a hearty welcome? Remember…our job as Christ’s Disciples is to share His Good News and to serve as His hands and feet on this earth… and then to be on our way. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Stay and push until people bend and break.” God doesn’t want coercion… He wants willing servants who come to Him with an open heart and a deep hunger for what He offers. And He needs harvest hands that will show Christian hospitality and welcome to those they encounter.
Are you a welcoming witness for Jesus? Do you demonstrate hospitality and a faith in Christ that is appealing to others? Ask God to show you how and where to make needed changes. Learn to operate in warmth and cordiality… to show others a quiet faith and service that is genuine, humble, and inviting. Start small and watch the impact of your Christian welcome grow. See how God can multiply your efforts, as others accept and serve Him because you do. Be a blessing to be blessed… and don’t miss out on a single thing God has for you!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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