The Great CommissionSample

Just Abide

My dad had the gift of evangelism. I have so many memories of him sparking up conversations about Jesus with waiters, staff at motels, cafes and the Woolies checkout. It was so natural to him, and never felt awkward. This is not my experience.

I remember as a new convert, one of my close friends, interested in the change she had seen, asked me what had happened. I launched into an explanation of the Gospel that jumped from Genesis to Revelation. It did not go well, and to this day I have never introduced someone directly to Christ.

This has weighed heavily, given that in all four Gospels Jesus commissions us to proclaim His kingdom and the repentance of sins to all nations. But I’ve found so much comfort in John 15:5. ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’ (NKJV).

I would like to believe I have introduced my friends to Christ, simply by abiding and allowing God to change me into His image. Perhaps, by letting go of ‘trying’ to share the Gospel and choosing to stay sensitive and obedient to His leading, I’m teaching those in my sphere of influence what it looks like to faithfully follow Jesus.

Perhaps Jesus simply expects of us is to lean into His authority and trust in His Spirit to work in the hearts of our friends. To pray for them and have faith that ultimately it is His spirit that testifies truth.

So abide my friends…and trust.

Written by REBEKAH ROBINSON