Jesus possessed every gift in perfection. He had every right and authorization recognized in the spiritual world, and He used them as needed. The most remarkable of His experiences have come down to us. If we examine what the Lord spent most of His time doing, we see that He devoted the greatest portion of it to being with His disciples. In His public ministry, He spent more time healing the sick than preaching the Word. In His conversations with people, Jesus did not usually give direct answers. Instead, He responded with another question or revealed the essence of the truth.
I have always wondered why so little was written about Christ and why many of His disciples left us not even one line of instruction or testimony about our Savior. I would greatly love to know what He said in private conversations, how He spoke to people about God, whether He had a sense of humor, and how His joyfulness revealed itself among people.
How deeply I would love to sit at His feet, listen to His stories, and simply admire the One Who came to save me, Who loved me long before I existed.
If only I could catch one glimpse of this wonderful Man. But He said that those who have not seen and yet have believed are blessed, and this brings me joy. Imagine it: we love the One Whom we have never seen, listen to the One Who has never spoken a single audible word to many of us, and obey the One Who exists in our imagination. It is interesting that although we perceive God and His love differently, we still possess unity in this matter.
I often hear the expression, “I will tell people about God.” I have become so accustomed to it that I do not even stop to consider what it means. Now I have decided to understand what role it plays in my life and whether I actually do it.
The expression is very good, but I have also noticed that it has become something of a stock phrase. It serves as an excuse or a screen concealing my ignorance, laziness, and unbelief.
There are simple things I do not need to tell people because they can see them for themselves. For example, I do not explain to anyone that I am a man. It is true. I do not hide this truth and am ready to defend it, yet for some reason, no one asks me about it.
I have also noticed that when I begin communicating with strangers without saying a single word to them about God, they ask me Whom I believe in or which denomination I belong to. Sometimes they try to understand it by observing my life.
I never forbid people to use profanity in my presence, but for some reason, they decide on their own not to do so after they become better acquainted with me.
When I begin showing people love and friendliness, for some reason they understand me without unnecessary words.
I am also amazed that many of you begin considering me your personal friend simply by reading these lessons. You are so confident of it that you even write or tell me so, although I have not personally declared my friendship. Yet you understood me without words, received me, set aside a place for me in your heart, and then told me about it. I receive this, but I never spoke directly about friendship. How did you know? Some of you regard me as a friend but, out of modesty, will never say so because you fear rejection. But I am inclined toward friendliness and am ready to give it to anyone within the boundaries of that person’s choice.
In previous chapters, we discussed the fact that friendship contains a supernatural element, and this is true. When I come into contact with other people, God begins using me in a remarkable way according to the situation and the other circumstances in which I find myself. I may say one thing while people hear what they want to hear or what I represent. I know that something similar happens with every believer.
When I tell a stranger that God loves him, he most likely hears, “I want you to become like me.” Although I do not say this, it is what he sees in me.
What does it mean to “speak about God”? I do not want to diminish this expression. I want to understand what meaning I place within it and what others hear in it.
There was a time when I made this a rule in every conversation, regardless of whether people were interested. I directed all my communication toward this and then could not understand why no one wanted to maintain a relationship with me. Later, I changed my approach and tried to move toward the subject gradually, looking for the right moment to introduce an element of truth into the conversation. Often, our communication smoothly moved into spiritual matters.
Romans 10:17 states: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Knowing this principle, I try to sow the Word wherever possible. But the Lord also gives me an understanding of the kind of soil with which I am working so that I can anticipate the result. If all my efforts lead nowhere and the result is zero, I believe I should reconsider something and try a different approach.
If I operated a business merely for the sake of working and made no profit, I would quickly understand that I needed to change my policy and seek something better. But when I labor and witness in vain for years, for some reason I consider it a spiritual achievement. I believe the result is also important here.
To speak about God, I need to have this God in my heart, thoughts, and motives. I need to speak with God. God is Love, and this cannot be hidden. His desire is for other people to see this love as well. This is possible if it truly exists. People have many questions about love for which they desire to know and hear the answers. Love responds with joy.
When I go to people, I am more concerned about whether I will be able to tell them about my love or demonstrate it, thereby revealing God through this attitude and assuring them that He is better than I am. Sometimes I return to my old track and begin telling them directly the truths that are clear to me, but people close themselves. Love, however, finds the key to the heart and seeks the best paths.
A philosopher once said that he would believe in God if he saw a true Christian. In these words, the world presents a challenge to us as believers.
I believe that if I demonstrate my holiness and knowledge to people while demonstrating my love only to God, this will not be a very good decision. But if I reverse these two things, it will be far more effective.
I cannot always testify about the truth or about God to everyone. But I am ready to do so. I can sow along the road, scatter seed among stones, and even sow among weeds. God has an abundance of this seed. But do I need wisdom in this matter? Do I behave this way with the money I earn through my labor? I believe that sometimes I need to conduct a deep analysis of my activities for my own sake. By witnessing merely for the sake of witnessing, I will learn something. But if it produces no result, I believe the matter should be reconsidered.
Love and friendship have nothing but advantages in this matter. They prepare the soil for the true seed and bear much fruit. Through you, they gain many friends for the Lord.
Show people God, and there will be a result. At times, many words are unnecessary, though faith comes by hearing. Let your heart speak, and let your love for people testify about a loving God. But this must be learned, and I believe our school teaches it.
Bible Verses for Reflection
Ecclesiastes 10:12; Proverbs 20:5; 15:4; Isaiah 32:20; Psalm 126:5; John 13:1; 1 John 2:6, 10; 3:23; 5:16; 3:18; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Timothy 1:5; James 1:5.