The Bank, the Barber, and the Buffet

We are a busy, preoccupied people. There is a hustle and bustle not only during the holiday season, but also in our everyday lives. If we as Christians (commissioned disciple-makers)are to impact our communities with the reality of Jesus Christ, we must learn to adapt our busyness into Spirit- led opportunities to build relationships and  be a Gospel witness to those around us.

In Acts 1:8, we are told we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses everywhere. In Matthew 5:13-14, we are told that we are “the salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” This is not a “could be” or a “should be” but a “we are”! If we are to be salt and light and we are to witness everywhere,  we need to be looking at the places we go in our busyness, like the bank, the barber and the buffet, to build relationships in order to share Christ.

Our classes or small groups need to become comfortable, not in giving a canned Gospel presentation but in living out the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 wherever they might be. When people around us see a genuine attitude of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control being lived out in our everyday lives, it is a Gospel testimony of the presence of Christ in our lives.  Matthew 5:16 says, “let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  When we do good works we are building relationships that open the door of opportunity to share Christ.

It is easy to attend church and become comfortable and even complacent in our Christianity.  It is easy for many of us to assume that someone else will share Jesus. Nevertheless, we must sense the urgency of sharing the Gospel with a genuine passion in the midst of our marketplace and our busyness. The parable in Luke 14 tells how the master orders his slave to “go out into highways and lanes and make them come in.” The Master has spoken to us in the same manner. Whether it is at the bank, the barber or the buffet or your school, salon or shop, start sharing the Gospel by living and loving as Jesus did in building relationships that matter for eternity. Any class can do it. It starts with you!