The need to cross the sea the witness?
I recently met a Christian couple and their young children
(from another denomination) who had advertised that they wished to give the
bulk of their Christian books to a church library. As the librarian for our
church library, I accepted their offer and visited them. As I journeyed for the
visit, I prayed that they were not giving away their faith with their books.
As they shared their books they also shared that they were
going overseas in two day’s time as missionaries to … wait for it … my own home
town!
As we spoke together they shared some of their fears and
anxieties about selling up and moving to a different country. As we discussed
faith (and what it is and is not) I was able to reassure them of God’s love and
watchcare. I knew that God would bless their obedience to His call, as they
were amenable to counsel and learned from our discussion that Heaven is a free
gift – that obedience is our ‘thank-you’ for what Jesus has already done rather
than what we must do to earn salvation.
While referring to me as a ‘Grandfather in the Faith’ they believed that
our meeting was a providential Divine appointment.
At the close of my visit I asked if I could pray with them,
entreating God’s blessings on their family and ministry. Even though we had
just met, we prayed together like a family.
As I was leaving, I silently prayed for them again and
thanked God for the opportunity to encourage them in their faith, grateful for
the opportunity to witness anywhere, any time. As I prayed, I could sense the
Spirit convicting me that to witness you don’t need to CROSS the SEA, you just
need to SEE the CROSS.
