“Donald Duck is not real, Dad. I just pinched his feathers as hard as I could while we were taking the picture and he didn’t even quack.” My 7-year-old son Connor came to this realization as we took pictures with Donald Duck recently at Disney World. It was that same duck that led my son Caden astray a few years ago as he wandered away from us to try to get his autograph.
ClampI had taught Caden that if he got separated from us to go to the castle, and his father would be waiting on him there. We watched him drift away and kept our eye on him to see if he would do what he had been trained to do. Instead of going to the castle and telling someone he was lost, he began to scream and run around in circles. I called out his name, and when he heard his father’s voice, he ran to me and buried his head in my stomach. Both of them have now learned not to follow quacks. They will lead you astray and you will be left with a feeling of hopelessness.
You come in contact with people every day who have drifted from their father. Some realize it, but most of them do not. They are following one quack after another and drifting farther and farther away. So many times we have a preconceived notion that they would be offended if we started a conversation with them about Jesus and it would be judgmental to discuss their sin problem. Wouldn’t it be more offensive to a friend if they found out you believed that salvation from sin was only found through Jesus, and you never had a conversation with them about it? They may question the seriousness of your faith and your friendship. The reality is that, deep down, many of them are seeking what you are keeping secret.
So how do you get started? First, earn the right to be heard by serving and loving them. This doesn’t take years, but it does take time. Next, pray that God will give you an opportunity to talk about spiritual matters and be intentional about telling them your story. Tell them about your life before following Jesus and the circumstances leading up to your confession of Him as Lord. You should let them know about your life after following Jesus and include the trials with the triumphs. Finally, tell them Jesus’ story. You may want to share them Scripture from John 3 and Ephesians 2:1-10.
People are looking for someone to believe in. Someone they can depend on and place their security in. Someone who will bring them hope. So if you find yourself in a conversation with someone this week who needs to hear about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit gives you a pinch. Show them your faith is real and speak up.
– Clamp is evangelism group director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Follow Lee on twitter @leeclamp or on his blog at www.leeclamp.com.