Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Psalm 51:12-15 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
WHAT ARE YOU?
I enjoy meeting new people and one conversation starter I’ve used is a question about their occupation: "What do you do?" A fellow passenger on a plane flight turned out to be a medical researcher. Someone else was a businessman. Others have been students or retirees. Often people like to talk about who they are and what they do. It's also a great opportunity to gain helpful information. If you met a doctor and had time to talk you could mention, "Oh, by the way, I've had this aching knee. What would you suggest I do?"
If the roles were reversed and you were asked, "How about you? What are you?" how would you respond? You might tell the person what you do for a living or what you're studying in school. But when you think about it, we are much more than our earthly occupation. Paul told the Galatians: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).
So what if you were to answer someone, "I'm a follower of Jesus"? That might provide just the opening needed to share with someone new the message of sin and grace. Everyone needs it, "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22-23). What's more, there is thrilling, life-changing good news for all, for Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). "By his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Look around. There are new people touching our lives in all kinds of ways and places. Why not start a conversation?
