The Joys of Leading a Soul to Christ
by Jeff McCrary
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015
“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:40-42).
In this passage, Andrew told his brother Peter about discovering the Messiah, the Christ prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures. Andrew did what he wanted to do; no one had to beg or badger him to do it.
Are we still talking to our friends and family about the Lord? Forty years ago, when I was a kid, I constantly heard of efforts by brethren to establish faithful churches in communities where none existed. All too often, it seems these days that churches are established because brethren can’t get along. Have we lost our zeal to lead souls to Christ? Have we consigned all of that business to hired specialists called preachers, whom we hire from afar, who are strangers to our community, friends, and family? Do we expect him to move in and, with some magic spell, convince our people who are unconvinced by our light and life? Hmmm...
How can we capture or recapture Andrew's spirit? By reminding ourselves of the joys of leading souls to Christ:
First, this is it! Our hearts can be settled that this is God’s way to reach the world. God’s way, by definition, must be the best way (Psalms 18:30)! We live and walk by faith, and, in the area of personal evangelism, faith is essential to success. Aren’t we today like the Gentiles of old (I Corinthians 1:21-23), thinking God’s methods are foolish? They are not; instead, they are proven and uncomplicated enough for any Christian to employ with success. Paul said, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14). Our God decided that the use of Christians as His instruments (Romans 6:12-13) would be the method of spreading His message most effectively. How many of our neighbors have died without efforts on our part to interest them? “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” we are told, but as Lloyd Barker has often said, “You can salt the oats.” Andrew salted Peter’s oats, and we need to get involved and interested in the lives of others around us to do the same, certain in our faith that this can result in the salvation in eternity of precious souls! It is truly a joy to know that we are teaching the way of salvation!
Second, all have a place to be, a job to do. Paul wrote to Timothy, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient...” (II Timothy 2:24). We’re all servants of God; therefore, we must all be able to teach. Every Christian knows God’s plan of salvation and should be able to convey that, as best he or she can, to the lost. All are best suited for this job, regardless of your abilities. God expects no more than your best. Your best will be in the circle of friends and family, people who know you. If our lives are godly and we learn the need to be servants in God’s kingdom (Matthew 20:25-28), He will give us supreme influence in certain people’s lives. No matter how talented the local preacher is, his influence in your loved one’s life is limited. This is your place, your time to speak up and encourage your friend in Jesus’ direction. You might be very surprised by his interest and willingness to learn more.
Third, this is the most effective method, period! People in our society today don’t go to worship every Sunday as they once did, and need to be shaken out of material stupor and into spiritual reality. As Christians, we must remember why personal involvement in the lives of others is the best way to lead them to Christ. To begin with, there is your life and character. Every time you “do the right thing,” help another, or forgive, you make an impression. Jesus said, “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Then there is the Providence of God that prepares souls by working in their lives to ready them for the gospel. If they are willing, by the time we come into the picture with our effort, feeble as it might seem, our friend has already been prepared by God, and we are the perfect agent for God at that time with our knowledge and words of encouragement.
The roll is already being called right now. Who will go for the Lord?
