Growing up in a Christian household, I always wondered how some people were easily able (or maybe it just felt like we were expected) to share the gospel and evangelize, especially while they led busy lives, worked full time, and were active in their community. In fact, there were times I would feel guilty for not just outwardly professing my faith in the workplace and somehow integrating Jesus in meetings and conversations, just so people would know I am Christian hear me roar! Okay, kidding, kind of… because that to me, would feel performative and not genuine. Yet, that feeling of guilt still lingered, like a small reminder that I wasn’t doing enough for Jesus because I was just living life, going to work, seeing friends; wash rinse repeat.
Pause. Consistent guilt and feelings of inadequacy do not come from God. While He does want us to go out and share the good news of the gospel, I am reminding myself (and perhaps you too) that God doesn’t weigh us down with shame and condemnation! He calls us to live in the fullness of his grace upon grace (John 1:16) Not grace upon guilt, not grace to cover up trauma, although it’s sufficient for that too. It goes deeper. So much grace, if you were to wade through its beautiful waters in search of the thing you were trying to cover up, you would find more grace, because he washed our offense away.
That’s the energy.
We don’t need to pester our co-workers about our relationship with Jesus. We just have to strive to reflect his goodness. Show that grace, bear the fruit of the spirit in your everyday life. It may be slow, but people will notice.
Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!
Romans 15:13 (TPT)
I believe through the love of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, He brings people to him, we are just called to make the introduction. I sometimes worry that picketing for Jesus in the streets, while bold on its face, may actually turn people away from Him, and that’s the last thing we want. So, when do we know it’s the right time to make the introduction and let the Holy Spirit do what it does?
Through Relationship
One of the most beautiful things about working in an office is interacting with people. Which is also sometimes the most exhausting part. It’s beautiful though, because we find people at our jobs that we wouldn’t be around otherwise. Co-workers with various types of beliefs, backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities etc. are all an instant message away.
And God loves each and every one of them.
By spending time with those around us, walking with them through their pain, and being vulnerable and humble enough to share our own, doors are opened. Not just for relationship, but God really shines in those places of our lives too. As believers, when we look back on hard times, and how we came through them, God is glorified when we give him credit for the victory. And because He is the God of hope, our triumphs over hard times (or if you are still walking in a valley) is shared in those conversations. No brute force or fancy words needed. Just the ever-present grace of God amidst our humanness, and it is so beautiful.
When we share our testimony, we plant a seed, so that the good news has a place to start. It’s with the Holy Spirit at that point to convict someone, and change their heart. For me, this is especially great news, because it means the pressure is not on us! From there, we simply continue to love that person as God does.
Go and walk in the grace and hope that God offers you! May it waft around you so strongly that those around you would notice Christ and be drawn to Him.
Her Office Closet 