Put A Pebble In Their Shoe
It's happens to all of us. We're walking along and suddenly become aware of a nagging little bump beneath the sole of our foot. Perhaps we're in a hurry and don't want to take the time to address it, so we try to ignore it. We're just too busy; it's not worth the effort.
Or perhaps we're not in an appropriate place or position to stop and remove our shoe to address the discomfort, so, again, we try to ignore it. We keep walking, trying to convince ourselves that it's fine, this is fine, no big deal.
But sure enough, there comes a time when we just can't ignore it any longer ... the shoe, and maybe even the sock or stocking, needs to come off so we can shake out the tiny pebble which made itself at home just beneath soft, tender pad of our foot.
Many (if not most) evangelical Christians get so nervous about witnessing to others. We fret not having all the answers, or feeling inadequate in presenting the "whole" of the Gospel message. So we shrink back and say nothing. But does this dichotomy of choices really exist? Or is there something in between?
Christian author, Greg Koukl, speaking to The Gospel Coalition, had this to say:
A wise ambassador ... weighs his opportunities and adopts an appropriate strategy for each occasion. ... Now here is my own more modest goal. I want to put a [pebble] in his shoe. All I want to do is give him something worth thinking about. I want him to hobble away on a nugget of truth he can’t simply ignore because it continues to poke at him.
Effective witness doesn't have to include a full, five point Gospel presentation. Sometimes all that's necessary is a little "nugget of truth" that nags at the unbeliever's conscience or phyche, until they simply cannot ignore it any longer. They have no choice but to "deal" with it, giving it greater consideration.
What they do with that nugget isn't our responsibility. It's entirely on them now. Will they simply remove it and toss it aside? Will they take it out and ponder how it got in there? Will it cause them to pause and consider further truth?
Remember, next time you feel intimiated to "present the Gospel" to an unbelieving relative, friend, or even stranger ... you don't have to drop a boulder on their head. You just need to drop a pebble in their shoe.
Matthew 13: 3-9 (NIV):
A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Seeing Clearly
It is estimated that there are approximately 10 million people in the U.S. and upwards of 36 million people worldwide who are actually blind, i.e., totally unsighted and living in darkness.
In addition to those with complete blindness, the WHO estimates:
- Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. In at least 1 billion of these, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.
- The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness at a global level are refractive errors and cataracts [a cloudiness which grows over the lens of the eye].
- It is estimated that globally only 36% of people ... have received access to an appropriate intervention.
While millions live in complete spiritual darkness, and millions (nay billions!) more live with some measure of blindness, it is safe to say, biblically speaking, that ALL men walk in spiritual blindness, absent the "Light" of Jesus and His restorative, regenerative, and salvific work on their behalf.
“And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” - Mark 8:23-25 ESV
God calls us to bring Jesus' Light to those who live in darkness, and to not just bring His Light and truth, but to disciple them into clarity of a mature and fruitfal walk with the Savior.
It’s one miracle to go from blindness to sight. It’s another to go from seeing to seeing clearly. We need Jesus to help us see things clearly.
"... the people living in darkness have seen a great light ..." - Matthew 4:16, NIV
Making Allies of Enemies
Being the small country it is, Liechtenstein never had much of an army. In fact, the last time it had one was in 1868. But in 1866, during the Austro-Prussian War, Liechtenstein sent 80 men to guard the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy. When the war was over, 81 men (not 80!) returned.
Where did the extra man come from? History offers many versions, with most suggeting the extra man was a defector who either simply "liked" the Liechtensteiners or decided life and work in Liechtenstein was preferable to whichever country he was from. Either way, this soldier decided to turn his back on his past and ally himself with the Liechtenstein forces. As such, the army enjoyed a net gain of one man from marching into "battle."
As Christians, we are at constant odds with the world around. As we march into battle do we see the unsaved as enemy combattants to be conquered, dragged away as prisoners of war? Or do we see them as potential allies, whom we can welcome into our ranks, marching home from battle arm-in-arm with them?
In a world at war, be a Liechtensteiner!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ..." (Matthew 28:19a, ESV)
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30, ESV).
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20, ESV).