June 2004
Power Evangelize!
Will we make the list?
Recently while sitting before Jesus, I had a flash of wit (or something like that); "Wouldn't it be great to be one of the 'All time top 100' evangelists ever?"
I don't know if such a list exists in heaven. If it did, it probably would include people like St. Paul & St. Peter, John Wesley and a host of others. The list would be a long one and I for one would definitely love to meet all the people on the list and hear their great testimonies.
But how about me joining them? What would it take for me to make that list? What exactly would I have to do? Would it be all about numbers (how many souls I've saved) or would it be about sacrifice? Would I make the list? Could I make the list? Did I have it in me? I think I do (same as I think we all do). But am I willing to go that extra mile, hey that extra 1000 miles for His sake? Am I really doing all I can?
Questions, questions & more questions.
Each of them more intense, more deep, having more than meets the eye on first glance.
And I certainly do not have all the answers. All I know is that I do, I do, I do want to give my all for Jesus. I know I don't have it in me - but hey, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
A good way to start evangelizing (if you're not already) is by following the points mentioned at the Diocese of Cleveland's site , viz.:
Sharing My Story : Who will believe what has not been shared?
Welcoming Others : We can invite others by giving them the welcome of a listening heart.
Accepting The Word : We cannot give what we have not first received.
Living It Out : Our lives speak more clearly than our words.
I encourage you to strive to be better than you are, to give more than you're presently giving, to push yourself to evangelize more than you thought you could.
Think of the all the people throughout Church history who were great evangelists. Why should you & I not do as much as they did or more? Why should 'Great Evangelists' be a term reserved only for the dead saints? Why should there not be tons and tons of great living evangelists - not just small time ones, but ones who give their all. Their very all.
I don't know if I'll make the list, but I'm certainly going to try. And I pray you'll join me on it.
June 2004
