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NASB | Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, |
Bible Question:
I just read a wonderful article and wanted to share it with you. It was written by a christian preacher from Tennessee. Finding Patrick On a recent visit to Tanzania I had the privilege to go with some fellow christians to the city of Wanza up on the shores of Lake Victoria. We drove clear across the Serengeti plains in Tanzania and arrived about dark. Boaz, one of our fellow christian travellers found us a place to stay and then told us he was going to find Patrick, the adopted son of Francis and Margaret Wechesa. Understand, we were in the second largest city in Tanzania with over a million people, and Boaz is on foot setting out at dark to find a man who has no phone and no address! About three hours later Boaz returned to where we were staying and announced, "I have found Patrick and have gotten the address to Isaac's house. We will go there in the morning. Well, my first question was, "Boaz, how in the world did you find Patrick?" Boaz replied, "I tracked him down through his Bible studies. I asked a man if they knew Patrick and he told me he did not know the man's name but there was a fellow who was teaching the Gospel in that area and he gave me directions to the street where he had been teaching. I went there and talked to others who had heard him, and eventually I found someone who knew where he lived." Unbelievable!! A million people, one fellow, no phone, no address, in the dark of the night!! Only in Africa! I got to thinking about my own life and wondered if anyone could track me down by the people I had been teaching the Gospel. I would not be far from the mark to say there was a sudden shame that came over me at the realization that, while I would be considered faithful to the Lord, and evangelistic in nature with a desire to spread the truth, I could not honestly think of any street in my home town where people could tell a stranger that, "We know a man who has been teaching the Gospel and we will take you to him." No question about it -- I must do better. God said to teach His Word and it would not come back void. He said to plant the Seed (His Word) and He would bring forth the increase. That's what I need to be doing. One day someone may be trying to find me and I would hope someone would tell them, "I know that man. He is teaching the Gospel; let me show you where he lives." Thank you, Patrick, for demonstrating what I should be doing in the Kingdom right in my own city. End of article. Oh, if we could only enjoy the wonderful sense and tremendous value of Christianity like Patrick shows his fellow family members. Would anyone have a suggestion as to how we could get a little closer to this standard of real and genuine Christianity? Blessings to you for reading this far. Country Girl |
Bible Answer: Wow, Country Girl. That article was inspiring, and made me feel all bubbly inside. While not quite on that grand of a scale, this sort of thing has already happened to me. Just be the light. I have the reputation at several local bars for being the "bible thumper." There is no one I talk to that doesn't get a dose. I find that the way to witness effectively is to just do it. I don't look for openings. I don't manipulate people into the discussion. I just talk about it as though it were everyday conversation, and with an air about the conversation that silently suggests that only a dummy would think otherwise. This is not to say that I insult them, or even insinuate insult. To give an example, I broke up a fight at one of the bars. To do this, I exercised humility, meekness, patience, and told the man very plainly, "Look brother, Jesus wants us to love one another. Remember, we should turn the other cheeck and not render evil for evil." I still get a laugh from it. The guy looked at me as though I was crazy, and says, "Are you being serious?" To which, ten other people outside said, "Yeah, he's being serious. He's all into that stuff." *laugh* The man went home in peace, did not continue the fight, and didn't come back later for revenge. The next time I saw him, you'd have thought I was his best buddy. Just remember, witnessing is more than telling. It is living. It is life, not the story of what life should be. YOU aren't the one being strange by talking about it. THEY are being strange for not acting on the conviction. Always remember that your good conversation in Christ will shame those that think to do you evil. I hope I was able to edify. Xerxes |