I am firm believer that true evangelism happens within the context of genuine relationship and walking alongside someone in the experience of life. However, what about those occasions where it's only a moment in time that you have with someone?
I have had many of these experiences and often been challenged to ask: how am I different? Do people experience something unique in an encounter with me? If the Holy Spirit lives in me they should.
Don't hide your light
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
- Matthew chapter 5, verses 14–16
This passage challenges believers by calling us to enact our belief. Do we really believe the light Jesus is talking about has the ability to change a situation or circumstance?
It's easy to do nothing or to say nothing, but that's not God's way. Jesus was bold as a lion and showed courage that did not shy away from the opportunity to glorify his father and share a message of love and hope.
We are called to do the same: we are called to trust God to fill our mouths with the words to speak.
Into action
Recently my life has been 'in transit'. I've traveled a lot for work, providing me numerous opportunities to enact my belief that the light inside me can make a difference to someone's life if it's shared.
I find myself with a lot of 'one off' opportunities to speak into people's lives. I like to approach these with a sense of anticipation and excitement about what encounters God might have for me.
Just a few weeks ago I was on a work trip that would see me on four planes in two days. I had just been doing a job in Perth all day and after a quick sleep at my hotel I found myself heading for one of those really early flights where people are in the zombie zone, waiting to get to their seats to get some shut-eye on the plane.
I passed through security and made my way to my gate, deciding to sit a couple of seats down from a woman. I noticed she was coughing and was in some serious discomfort. Most people around her were either ignoring her or moving on quickly as though thinking 'I don't want to catch what she's got'.
I felt compassion and I was moved to help her in some way. I began to pray for her. I asked God to help her, to heal her. Then all of a sudden out of my mouth I asked 'are you OK, can I get you some water?'
Out of my mouth
I am a firm believer that a stranger is only a stranger until you say hello and as I spoke, it was as though a door was opened.
I listened to her story of hardship, homelessness and searching for something that was going to give her hope, direction and value. For some reason she opened up to me about all sorts of details and deep yearnings about her life. All I could think was, 'Jesus can help you—he is the answer'.
With the boldness of believing in that truth, that light inside me, I shared with her that God loved her and he knew her so deeply.
She opened up even more, and as a result she asked questions and listened to me and was touched by the love of God. She told me she had been invited to a Christian camp in the past week and she wanted a change in her life.
I encouraged her to take that opportunity and reinforced the love of the Father. As she boarded her plane she looked into my eyes and grabbed my hand. I could feel her gratitude for our encounter.
Touch of God
Early that morning, at a Perth airport, this woman had a touch of God and a seed was sown deeper into the soil of her heart.
Someone once said to me that sharing Jesus is not about downloading information, but it is about getting someone to turn their face towards Jesus—he will do the rest. Take every opportunity to let your light shine, you never know how God might use you in a person's life—even if you will never meet them again.
We do not know what time is left, but we do know that there is an urgency to let the light of Jesus illuminate those whose hearts really need him.