Sometimes You Have to Turn OFF the Words!

I had to stop reading and come journal in this! I am one of those people who think because it is making a deep connection with me, it will with others as well..... So I must share! This is a mix of notes and memory...so bear with me.

I am reading "Lifestyle Evangelism" by Joe Aldrich. It appears to be written in 1981 (another great second hand store find). I feel like it is speaking to me so clearly! I kept making notes and notes, and more notes.... then I just had to stop and come write.

It is explaining Christ's model of evangelism.... visualization and verbalization of truth. John 1:14 says, "The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
This verse can become our model of evangelism.
purpose: to glorify God;
strategy: to incarnate truth (to become flesh);
methodology: to be full of grace and truth.

It hit me a few minutes ago, It seriously is that simple to evangelize! Outsiders to faith are first drawn to Christians, and then to Christ! You have to be good news, before you can share good news. It is all about walking the talk. It is simply expressing what I possess in Christ by my actions and words. (visualization and verbalization, just like Christ did) It is displaying His love, righteousness, justice, and faithfulness~~ through our everyday life. It is not a special activity... it is constant and spontaneous.

Christ did not just talk about love, He loved. He didn't just preach on forgiveness, He forgave. He didn't just proclaim the necessity of justice and righteousness, he demanded it and exposed it. He lived among them. He was one of us. He was full of truth and grace. Not condemnation and legalistic beliefs, truth and grace.

I am reading this, and thinking...oh my word, I can do this! I certainly need to be working on the grace showing.... How in the world do I plan to lead another to Christ, and yet let my heart be filled with envy, revenge, or anger? What are my actions showing my fellow man?

I have to ask myself...Is this bringing glory to God; incarnating truth; or being full of grace and truth? Remember that Jesus gave us the perfect example to evangelize in John 1:14. You can study this, and should, but you also must be willing to BECOME it.

In his book, the author tells us, " The music of the gospel is the beauty of the indwelling Christ as lived out in everyday relationships in life. When the world observes this, they have heard the music. Sometimes we have to shut off the words and just play the music."

The Hebrew word for truth is emeth. The root verb means to be secure, solid, or firm. Are you representing the gospel in truth?