Growing God's Kingdom by One

Daily we hear of famines, earthquakes, wars, political turmoil, corruption, violence, and injustice. And with each chaotic headline, we are reminded just how broken this world is. We are tempted to join with generations of saints who for two thousand years have been praying, “Come, Lord Jesus, come”. We long for the day, promised in Revelation 21, when Jesus returns, when grief, pain, and death are no more, when Jesus makes all things new, and we can live in His kingdom with Him and worship Him forever.

While His return will be great news for those of us who call the resurrected Jesus Lord, there are many for whom His return would be very bad news. As revealed in Matthew 25, one day we will all stand before His throne, and He will separate those who believe in Him and receive the inherited kingdom from those who do not believe and face eternal separation from Him.

We have the opportunity to, and we are in fact called to, change that dynamic, to change their bad news into the very best news by sharing the Good News of the love Jesus has for everyone. Each of us has a person in our life (relatives, neighbors, coworkers, teammates, etc.) whose eternal destiny depends on hearing and receiving that Good News. Who comes to mind? Who is the one person that you will commit to pray for, that you will invest in, that you will tell about the love of Jesus you have experienced?

Although this task seems rather intimidating, telling your one about Jesus is quite simple. It starts by praying for them. Asking God to soften their heart that they might be open to the Good News. Then invest in your one, get to know them. Ask about their spiritual background, “Did you and your family go to church when you were growing up?” or “That’s an incredible sunset, do you believe in a creator?” Such questions spark conversations. Your role is to listen, not debate (no one’s testimony ever started with, “I lost an argument”). Ask clarifying questions designed to get to know them, designed to show you genuinely care.

Your curiosity about their beliefs will invariably lead to their curiosity about what you believe. Be prepared for their questions. Tell them about your journey, the impact Jesus has made on your life. You don‘t have to know a great deal of theology. If they ask a hard question, commit to finding an answer. Then invite them to have further conversations with you, invite them to serve with you, to go to church with you, and ultimately to receive the love and sacrifice Jesus made for them. 

It all starts by asking questions. There is nothing hard about that. Remember, you could be the vehicle God is using to grow His kingdom by one. Who is your one?