…then we are going to have to take risks. It’s that simple. Father God isn’t into safety, He doesn’t have to be – He’s where safety comes from! I’d add ‘DUH’ to that sentence but it seems a bit rude, so you will have to imagine it instead. 😂 I could also talk about the many interesting side effects of living by faith, but one of the primary benefits is that it isn’t ever boring. Nothing about our God is boring!!

Let’s briefly look at how you or I could talk to our neighbours about Jesus. Start by asking the Lord to provide you with an opportunity. In our experience that particular prayer works a treat. I’m often housebound for long periods of time so I literally have to pray this kind of encounter into our house! After I pray that, I pray for Him to stick a big sign on the circumstances that says: ‘opening’ or ‘space for me to share about what I believe’ … because I’m as dumb as a rock and I have been known to miss what I asked for!  Witnessing keeps us on our toes. It keeps grace going IN and OUT … but… sometimes, in the light of full disclosure … you can also land on your head! That’s OK, we can all do with a big dose of humility. 

All we need to be able to witness to others is a desire to please the Lord. We know from His book that He loves it. I mean …  … He really really loves it when His people talk about Him to others. That action shatters the never-spoken-about glass ceiling that Christians like to hide behind. I’m talking about that safety zone we have carefully constructed to keep everyone around us OUT and at the same time, present a pretty picture of who we are supposed to be. Aren’t we all glad that Jesus never did that!?

Back to my point: It is good if we don’t use fancy words when talking to others-who-don’t-know-Him-yet. Most people don’t speak Christian-ese, so when you speak God’s word, it’s OK to use a modern version. You might like the King James version but that is too hard for an unbeliever to understand. Besides, it seems that not many people speak what I actually call English anymore. People today seem to speak ‘abbreviation’ instead! 😶 

So here are a couple of illustrations of witnessing in action on our trip…hubby went for a walk to a local bakery and the things for sale in there cost an arm and leg — he came out of there hopping and waving one arm for balance. Only joking!!  But the baker and staff loved the bookmarks and calendars he gave out, and she gave him a free bun .

On the way back, hubby passed a homeless man sleeping on a bench in a bus shelter. Man there’s a reality rush! There’s nothing like looking at how someone else is forced to live to give you a wake-up call.. Hubby stopped, sat down with him, talked to him, and prayed for him. Then he gave him a Coles voucher and the Book of Hope.  His name is Rob. We’ve learnt that people end up on the street for all kinds of reasons they can’t help!

Here’s a helpful thought: instead of avoiding homeless people, try just saying ‘hello’ or smiling at them instead. They are human beings with names … they just fell into hard times and they aren’t all drunks and druggies. Like I said, if you want to see the Lord work you will have to take a risk, and sometimes you will have to put up with the smell. The thing is that smell reminds me that my sins stink like that in the Lord’s sight. It makes me think about the parable of the Wedding feast. The guys that actually come to that feast are the guys who weren’t asked to be there  – other people compelled them to come in. 😂

Here’s another cool thing the Lord did – the other day we returned to Ayr, to see our new Chinese friend Steven. Hubby was sorting out our bibles, etc., and guess what he found?? Yay, Jesus!! He found a Chinese New Testament for Steven to read. Hubby searched very thoroughly for one when we were in Ayr going toward Cairns, but he couldn’t find it. We assumed we didn’t have one. On the way back it just appeared! Seriously. Sometimes angels are really busy doing stuff for the Lord — they don’t all scare the living daylights out of people. You and I might pass one on the street. .. or in a bus shelter … 

“…Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you…“ Hebrews 13:2,3. MSG. Good advice. This world is not our home, next time it could be our turn to live through horrid stuff… Remember, if we want to see the Lord at work… then we will need to open our mouths and take risks. Bye. 👋