Helping people to find Christ

On a snowy Thursday night the youth group Bible study continued the journey through the Desire of Ages.  Amidst questions, praises for answered prayers and time of praying for others, we had read on the story of first disciples encountering Jesus (Gospel of John 1:37-50), Andrew finding Peter, Philip finding Nathanael, and bringing them to Christ, without arguments, simply with an invitation “Come and See!”

An inspired commentary moved me to share it with you as a reminder of our personal responsibility to lead people to Christ. (Quotations are from the Desire of Ages, p.141)

These examples should teach us the importance of personal effort, of making direct appeals to our kindred, friends, and neighbors. There are those who for a lifetime have professed to be acquainted with Christ, yet who have never made a personal effort to bring even one soul to the Saviour. They leave all the work for the minister. He may be well qualified for his calling, but he cannot do that which God has left for the members of the church.

There are many who need the ministration of loving Christian hearts. Many have gone down to ruin who might have been saved if their neighbors, common men and women, had put forth personal effort for them. Many are waiting to be personally addressed. In the very family, the neighborhood, the town, where we live, there is work for us to do as missionaries for Christ. If we are Christians, this work will be our delight. No sooner is one converted than there is born within him a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus. The saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart.

 All who are consecrated to God will be channels of light. God makes them His agents to communicate to others the riches of His grace. His promise is, "I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26.

Please reflect on this.  Do not leave all the work of evangelism to the minister – I cannot do it alone.  You all are ministers.  We remind that to our church through the bulletin – this is a place where everyone is gifted for service!  If you do not lead people to Christ, they may never hear the Gospel.  If you really met Christ, you cannot help but share Him with others!