Challenging Words
Leading someone to Christ, one on one, has never been one of my strengths. But I’ve learnt the power of the one liner. The Holy Spirit can take some little thing you say and drive it home to an unsaved person’s heart.
At one time John Wesley, the great English founder of the Methodist church, was on a ship sailing to America. He wanted to be a missionary. He was an ordained Anglican minister but had seen no response from anyone he had preached to or talked with about God. In his thinking, a fresh start was all he needed.
The almost three month journey was not without its dangers. At one time a fierce storm caused waves to crash right over the ship. The mainsail snapped and splintered and water poured down between the decks.
Wesley was terrified. He joined a group of Moravian Christians for some kind of company to ease his own wrenching anguish. The Moravians were singing. As water washed into the rooms the English began screaming. The German Moravians momentarily looked up but immediately went back to their hymn. Afterward John asked one of them “Weren’t you afraid?” “I thank God, no,” he said. “But were not your women and children afraid?” John persisted. The Moravian replied mildly, “No, our women and children are not afraid to die.”
This haunted John. With all his preaching and praying, he was in fear of his life while they lived out trusting faith. Their words and lives would continue to challenge him, until three years later he found Christ.
A word in season is worth a thousand sermons that have no sharp edge to them. Don’t be afraid to speak for Christ. One line might be all it takes.
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