L2S2 Personal Evangelism. Love.

• Love
• Listen
• Serve
• Speak

These four action words have been impressed on my heart, specifically regarding personal evangelism. 

You know those people who you know need Jesus, and who you want to share Jesus with? You want to share Jesus with them but you either aren't sure how, or you think that God wouldn't want them because they are jerks, or you don't know if they could even see the Jesus you follow because of how loud your life is preaching a different message?

I learned something from a pastor I know (imagine that!) who was telling a story about how he used to be when he first got saved. He used to pull up in front of the bar and rev his motorcycle really loud, then scream, "Devils church! Devils church! Turn or burn! Turn or burn!" then peel out and drive away. He told the story with much regret and sadness because in the years God brought him to a deeper understanding of what it means to evangelize. I think he really began to understand the scripture that states:  "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Cor 13:1 NASB).

How many times have people been unable to hear the Word of God that we want so desperately to speak to them because WE aren't right? They can hear the fact that we would sometimes rather not be with them. They can hear when we occasionally look at them for "being lesser people," or for  not "having our understanding."  How many times has our message been lost because our heart wasn't right in the way we presented it? How many times have we forsaken the message of God, because our motives were rooted not in the things of God, but in pride?  Do we love the person we are talking to? Do we love them and want to see them in a relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth?  If our motive is anything other than love, then we are falsely representing God to men.  I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith — enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:16-17). God died for the person you are reaching out to. That person who is made in the image of God is no more or less lost than you were when He found you.

Remember that.

We aren't greater or less than. We are the same as our brothers and sisters.... all in need of the Savior.  As we love the Savior, we should strive to love like the Savior.  As Jesus loved us, we should love others.