After an evening fencing session last night, my son and I, being driven by our bellies, made a stop at a late night eatery. The lady, I’m sure out of boredom, desired to stir up some conversation with my boy and myself. During our intense inhalation of the food, our drink had spilled. Quickly, asking the lady for some extra napkins, she came to our rescue. She then began to make nice comments about our politeness and attitude and explained that this was a pleasant contrast from the usual behavior from customers. At this point the Holy Spirit had softly invited me to tell her about our Lord. But, I did not. I am challenged that even though we may not believe we are gifted as an evangelist, the apostle Paul exhorts us to do the work of an evangelist “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2Ti 4:5. When the Lord invites us to tell others about Jesus and we don’t, this is an excellent time for us to inquire of our Lord to reveal our heart. This is so beneficial for us, because it is clearly seen in His word that sharing the good news is the Lord’s heart. In my devotions this morning I was reading through Acts chapter 26. Paul being accused by the Jews is sent before Herod Agrippa for trial. Paul knows that the Lord has allowed his circumstance to happen so that he could have the privilege to tell the king and the officials about Jesus. Paul then shares his testimony. He begins to simply share what he was before Jesus, how Jesus met him, and what he is now in Christ. A great tool! As converts in Jesus, we all have a story. I challenge you to organize a personal testimony that can be shared containing these three elements with a scripture or two. Trust me, the Lord will use it! They may challenge the truth, who can argue a changed life?

When a critical spirit begins to surface in my heart toward another, the Holy Spirit often reminds me that when I begin to focus and get turned off by a sin of another, I tend to recognize it easily because it is the very sin that as taken me. I like how the Apostle Paul encourages us to put down our critical spirit and focus in on what we can do and not what our brother can’t do

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.

Perfect love causes us to examine all our choices and actions and consider if they build up our brethren in Christ