The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Stories)

 

Ten Habits That Have Helped Me in My Christian Life! (Habit #5)

In these posts we are asking what habits have I found helpful in my maturing process as a believer. Reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer, developing an attitude of gratefulness, and being alone with Him are vital to my daily walk.

A fifth habit that I’m working on is being ready to witness to others. I know. I know. Witnessing seems to be such a burden, such an opportunity to embarrass oneself. So how can we take the sting out of sharing Jesus with others?

Here are a few considerations that have helped me. First, I need to remind myself that I am on a mission for the Lord. In John 17 Jesus makes it clear that He has sent us into the world to represent Him. Not to witness is clear disobedience to the continuance of His mission!

Second, I am slowly learning that every person has a story to tell and they just need to know that someone will listen! If we are willing to spend time with others and we let them know we will listen to them, they will begin to open up and share their lives with us. Evangelism by strafing (like a combat plane over an enemy encampment) is not witnessing.

When they know we will listen to their story, there will be places where we can carefully insert gospel truth. Some of these conversations may seem fruitless (like listening for a half an hour to one friend complain about the cost of shingling her house), but they are investments in long-term relationships!

Inevitably those who share their stories with us will begin to ask us questions. And it’s a whole lot easier to witness when we’re being asked questions, right?

In our next post I want to talk about a topic many of us need to really work hard at — the topic of basic friendship! But let me ask you — whose story are you going to listen to today?

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry . . .” (James 1:9)

 

Time for a Great Cartoon! (nostalgia)

“Stories with no point.” Hmmm. We older people can get lost in our nostalgic memories that may mean very little to today’s generation. But we have a DUTY to share our stories!

Nostalgia can be lethal IF we allow our memories to hinder our living in the present. Titus 2 tells the believer in Jesus that he or she is to “live in the now world.” Nostalgia has its merits, but not as a substitute for living one’s life for the Lord right NOW.

 

Absorbing any woes? (Part 11)

The Bible teaches that we are to “bear one another’s burdens.”  We want to continue to examine that passage in Galatians over the next few posts:

I have suggested a four–part outline for this passage.
I.  The Occasion for Caring (v. 1)
II.  The Expression of Caring (v. 1)
III.  The Danger in Caring (v. 1)
IV.  The Characteristics of Caring (vv. 2-10)

We’ve looked at I.  The Occasion for Caring (v. 1) by noticing that the ones who are doing the caring are “brothers and sisters” and “you who live by the Spirit.”  The reason for the caring is that another brother or sister has been “caught in a sin.”  We’ve also looked at II. The Expression of Caring (v. 1) and saw there that we are to be looking to restore that person, but in a spirit of gentleness.  We’ve also noticed III. The Danger in Caring (v. 1).  When we care for others, especially those “caught in a sin,” we need to watch ourselves so that we do not give in to temptation ourselves.

Let’s look today at the eighth part of our study:

IV.  The Characteristics in Caring (vv. 2-10)

We’ve seen that we are to bear each other’s burdens (v. 2) and we are to recognize self-deceit (v. 3).  We are also to test our own life (v. 4) and take responsibility for our own challenges (v. 5).  We are to care for those who care for us (v. 6).  We then received a warning regarding the deceitfulness of sin (vv. 7-8).  Those who sow to please the flesh will reap destruction.  Those who sow to please the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.  How we sow truly matters.  If we look at our lives as a garden which we are cultivating, it matters a great deal what we sow in that garden!  We last noticed that we are not to give up on helping each other (v. 9).  We read Paul’s challenge:  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

The last characteristic of caring is found in verse 10 and it is —

H.  Expressing concern for all people (v. 10).  There we read, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  If our study of Galatians 6 is correct, then verse 10 could very well apply to caring for those outside the Christian family who need good done to them.

May I suggest that the good they need done to them may be as simple as a believer in Jesus showing a willingness to hear their story.  It’s been my experience that the troubles of life bombard us all — and we need to tell our stories to others.  The same is true of those who are not yet believers in Jesus.  May I ask, whose story are you listening to?

Questions:

1.  What are some reasons we Christians don’t look for — and take the time to listen to — the stories of our non-Christian friends?

2.  What are we saying when our friends feel comfortable with us in telling us their stories?