Message
Wise fishermen who use the hook and line for fishing know that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to catch any fish if they do not have bait. In the same vein, if you go out to win souls without arming yourself with something that attracts the hearts of men, your effort will most likely yield little fruit. When it comes to evangelism, the most effective bait is love. God is love, as we see in today’s Bible reading, so if you are going to preach about Him, your character and actions should reflect His love.
Often, the people you will meet during soul-winning outreaches will be burdened, lonely, or wounded. You must understand that a warm smile can melt a hard heart faster than a sermon, and a gentle tone can open a door that a loud voice will close. Also, you must never forget that before you preach Christ with words, you must first preach Him with your actions. Jesus began to ‘do’ before He started teaching (). Before you begin to share the gospel with anyone, ask yourself, “What is this person’s most pressing need at the moment?” For instance, a hungry man needs food before he can concentrate on listening to a message, and a mother with a crying baby will hear you better after you have helped calm her child. The most effective soul-winning outreaches begin with simple kindness.
Love also manifests itself through humility. For instance, if you meet someone doing laundry, do not just talk to the person as you watch him or her washing and rinsing clothes; offer to join the person. If you find someone sweeping, offer to help. You are not demeaning yourself; rather, you are replicating Jesus Christ, who washed His disciples’ feet (). When you show people genuine love and care, they will see God in you, and their hearts will become open to the gospel. Jesus said in that every soul won brings joy to heaven. Think about it, what effort can be too great to make your Father happy? Let your compassion and service be the bridge that leads others to Christ.
Beloved, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts sinners and brings them to repentance, so do not be discouraged when some people remain hard-hearted even after you have preached to them. Your words and character will sow seeds in their hearts that the Holy Spirit can use later on to draw them to Jesus.