My workplace is a mission field of it's own. Everyone there knows that I'm different than them. There is something about me that just isn't right, not within their understanding. So they poke and prod trying to get me to act like them. Seeing how far they can push me until I push back. I will admit, at times, I feel like pushing back, OK, I feel like swinging on them and knocking all their teeth out to tell the truth.
I struggle sometimes knowing these people need Christ, not knowing what to say, not knowing how to present an understandable conversation that won't lead to conflict. Sometimes I will bring up a conversation about church or something funny that happened on the church van the night before. I guess I'm hoping that it will make them think a little about where they might stand with God. I don't think this really gets through to them. Today I heard a couple of guys talking about the continuous rain we have had. One said, "I'm going to build an ark", knowing I was right there. I sat there and didn't say a word. They know about the stories in the Bible, they know about Jesus but they don't know Jesus on a personal level like they should. It breaks my heart some days to hear the way they talk. I can hear them tease in the back of the shop, saying things in funny voices like, "Repent of your sins" and such. I wonder if they even have a clue as to the fact that they have rejected Jesus and what eternity means for them.
How do I get through to these people? Do I continue doing the right thing by working hard and not acting like them? Should I say something like, "Is this where you want to be when Jesus comes back". I feel like I've placed my witness in my pocket yet I know our witness isn't something we pull out once in a while. It's something that radiates off of us. I want to see these people change so bad but wonder, can that happen without speaking of Jesus and what He wants to do in their lives? I pray for them and wait but there has to be more. How do you reach a lost generation that wants nothing to do with change?
2 comments:
The power of the cross is absurdity to those who are perishing. I recently have been praying for those I have been trying to reach for Christ. I have been waiting for open doors to share a truth with them, and even when I do it is rejected. Just getting people to understand that Gods word is the only truth. They are being bombarded by lies everyday all day long via music, tv shows, movies, news. Satan has them brainwashed and their minds are so blinded that if the evident truth were in front of them they would not believe it. So, I tell them I have personal evidence of the experience of the presence of the Lord. No one will ever convince me that Gods word is not true. I have felt His touch, I have been flooded in my being with His very presence. His love and His peace have filled me. And I feel sorry for anyone who refuses that. I will go to the death defending my faith in God. And that is all the evidence I have to offer is my own experience that ANYONE can have. I found His word is true, He said,"when you seek me, You will find me when you seek me with all your heart."
If we need to shed tears for these people we will. I pray for Gods spirit to touch these, so they can come to Him.
Keep on keepen on Mike
Such a difficult position to be in. Bless you for your efforts! Just loving God the way you do in their presence will have an impact.
I used to work with a punk kid who always called me 'white #$*!.' The more I tried to be a light in his dark life the more of a punk he was towards me.
Well, one evening I finally had enough, so I calmly & casually said to him, just as he layed down for the night after terrorizing everyone in the cottage for a couple hours, 'So, d'ya know that a major fault line runs right under us? Like an earthquake kinda thing. The ground could rip open tonight and swallow this place whole. Weird, huh?'
He was open to all sorts of spiritual conversations from that point on!
So, not a good example at all, but it makes me laugh to remember it ;o)
I understand your frustration and will pray for you!
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