When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
Jesus was the master of the 'throwaway line' - 'it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven' (Matthew 19:24).
This is a comment that's designed to provoke both thought and a two way conversation.
In the past, I think I've tried too hard to come up with a short statement that will end conversation - by overwhelming someone with the truth, rather than a remark that will open up a conversation.
One of the benefits of training as a coach is that I've learned to ask questions rather than offer answers (Jesus was good at that too!). How would we go about faith-sharing by asking questions rather than giving answers? When people work out the answers for themselves, they tend to remember them much more than if the answers are given to them.
Sometimes we link sharing faith too closely with the Holy Club practice of helping the poor. The 'cost' of our help is listening to a sermon or attending church.
If we are truly Christlike, we help people because they need it and our compassion leads us to do it. If they ask why we're helping, we're in a good place to explain that its the love that Jesus has put in our lives that we share with others.
As I've been thinking about helping others, I realise that mostly I subcontract helping others - usually by giving money. There are lots of agencies that do this - I hardly go for a pee nowadays without seeing a 'toilet twinning' sign hanging in the loo - brilliant idea. Its important that we use some of our money in this way.
My challenge is to remember that I can't just subcontract helping others, I need to get my hands dirty and do the helping myself - it's very easy to get so busy with work and those closest to me that I forget to make time for those who need help even more.
The disciples once thought that Jesus was too busy (and too important?) to bother with the needs of children. Who am I too busy to notice?
Bible passage to meditate on: Luke 10:13-16
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