Passionate Influence

‘Come and see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves’ John 4:19-20 [MSG]

We are all very different and have been called to serve in very different roles. But the ultimate purpose of our destinies is to connect people to God. And God is all about that – connecting people to Him. Imagine if people would say about God’s Favourite House, you should hear those people talk about their God. They are so fired up when they talk about Jesus. They get so pumped up when they talk about what Jesus has done for them. In fact, I just feel like joining them [this is a good place to say amen]. Max Lucado, a writer and Pastor, says when he went to Brazil on a mission trip he didn’t know anything about soccer. He thought it was a boring sport. While he was there, he would see hundreds of thousands of people trooping to Maracana stadium excited to watch a match. He used to think they were all crazy. The same way people that don’t watch the premier league look at the people who watch it and think they are crazy. Over time the same person said he got curious enough to go and see what they were all going to see. So he went to Maracana stadium as a skeptic. And he said that by the time he was back to the US, he had become a soccer fanatic. He could not understand why anybody would not love soccer. What was the difference? What changed him? The influence of the people that are passionate about soccer – that’s all. Some people have shut their minds at God around you; God wants them to reconsider Him because of you. God wants the testimony of your life to cause them to believe in Him. Words can be misunderstood but passion is unmistakable.

How can we talk about God in a way that is full of clarity and passion? How should we convey our personal salvation story [faith story] in a way that is humble and interesting? The simple answer to both questions is stories. Jesus always taught with stories. God has a story. You and I must learn how to tell God’s story. The way to share your faith in a way that is humble, not condescending, yet passionate is through your story. You have a story and you need to learn how to tell your story.

Prayer: Father, give me an unmistakable passion for connecting people to Jesus, in Jesus Name.