#shesharestruth-Commissioned Moments

For the background on #shesharestruth and #shereadstruth, visit this link:

http://shereadstruth.com/2014/05/02/shesharestruth-commissioned-moments/

It was a regular fall morning.

I hadn't made any resolutions to share the Gospel recently. It wasn't even on my mind that morning as I wolfed down breakfast and took a quick shower so I could get to my class on time. I was concerned with being actually on time this week, getting some studying done, and hopefully getting a good grade on the paper I was turning in. But God had something totally different in mind.

As soon as the professor dismissed us, I shoved my notebook and pens into my backpack and lugged it onto my shoulders. The class filed out of the room and I found myself next to two of my fellow classmates. I had briefly talked to one of them before-his name was Ben, and he was your average clean-cut, friendly, attractive, happy freshman. But today I remembered that he had come into class late. He was haggard, he hasn't shaved, and he looked terrible. As we walked down the stairs, I heard him mention that he had had a break-up. I remembered from our first conversation that he and his significant other were very close, and they planned to go to school together and more. I felt bad for him, but when his companion left I was at a loss for words. I would have just walked on, but I felt God pressing me to talk to him. But Lord, I barely know this guy! I protested, but I knew what He wanted me to do. I thought God probably wanted me to give him some words of encouragement, so I started talking.

"Ummm...I'm really sorry." I sort of awkwardly mumbled, really unsure of what to say. "Thanks." He said quietly. I could tell he was really feeling down. "I've never gone through a breakup," I continued, really hoping that I was saying something helpful, "But I hope you feel better...again I'm really sorry."

He weekly smiled, but I knew my words were completely useless. I wanted to speak what I would honestly say, but I couldn't. Finally, God pushed me, and I said (awkwardly and quietly): "You know...I'm pretty deeply religious...I mean I'm a Christian and I take it really seriously...and whenever I'm down, I go to God and He fills me with so much strength and joy!" There. I said it. I almost felt a weight lift from my chest. But he seemed to be even more upset. "Yeah, I was raised a Christian, but I haven't been to church in a long time." He said, looking at the ground. "I almost jumped off a bridge two months ago." 

That surprised me. But as the he went on, it was even more shocking. Doubt, anger, depression, fear. He confided that he was gay and told me how upset he was and how he wasn't sure about God at all. When he finished, I looked calm on the outside, but on the inside I was shocked. We only had minutes, so I just started with the most basic Gospel I could give.

"Well, it's not about being gay or not that sends you to hell or gets you to heaven. We all deserve to go to hell, because we are all sinners in need of Jesus. And you can't try to clean yourself up before you come to Him, because apart from Him you can't fix yourself at all. Just come to Him, and He will love you unconditionally, and that's when He will show you what's right and what's wrong." 

Then I prayed with him, invited him to our church, and we rushed off to our classes.

I was in shock the entire day. God had used me! I didn't see Ben at our church, but I know that God planted a seed of the Gospel in his heart. I am completely incapable of making anyone a Christian. But God works through us-we are His hands and feet! 

The most important tool for missions isn't eloquence, knowledge, or persuasion. The ultimate tool is God. He is the only one who can change a heart. The best way to prepare for missions is to seek Him more! The better you know God and the closer you are to Him, the more closely He can lead you to effectively witness. Make it your goal to know Him, and He will work through you and make everything fall into place.

Not by power, nor by might, but by my Spirit, says The Lord of hosts. -Zechariah 4:6