Witness LIONS IN THE STREET
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. Prov. 22:13.
The slothful man is really saying that he doesn't want to go out into the streets because he might get hurt. He would be taking a chance if he went out. He'd rather stay home where it's warm comfortable and safe. Have you ever felt like this man when you were invited to become involved in the Christian witness? Is it possible in that sense to stay in the house because we are afraid there are lions out there, and we might be hurt?
One reason many find it so comfortable to stay inside by the fire is because of spiritual uncertainty in their own lives. They realize deep down that their religion is just a habit or façade. They shrink from having it closely examined by others. So they stay away from witnessing because they aren't that sure of their own standing with God.
Another lion in the street is the fear of being pushed into a theological corner by someone asking hard questions. Have you ever wanted to stay inside by the fire because of that reason? We have a tendency to let the professionals do the witnessing for us, to let them face to lions in the street in our behalf. We figure that they are lion tamers! They are supposed to have all the right answers, and know how it's done.
A third lion in the street is the fear of failure. Have you ever tired to witness to someone, perhaps given Bible studies or whatever, and felt you failed? Have you been afraid that it was your fault that the people to whom you witnessed did not decide for God?
To deal with these lions on the street, I'd like to remind you that for the spiritually uncertain, to come into Jesus' presence is a motivating experience. When we know Jesus as our friend, and realize His loving acceptance, we will no longer be afraid of that particular lion. Second, the primary Christian witness is to tell others what Jesus means to us. And we can always admit that we don't know a theological answer, but are willing to search for it. And third, we have never been asked to weary ourselves over success. The results of our work are to be left in God's hands. God invites us today to become involved in active service for Him, and He will deal with the lions.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. Prov. 22:13.
The slothful man is really saying that he doesn't want to go out into the streets because he might get hurt. He would be taking a chance if he went out. He'd rather stay home where it's warm comfortable and safe. Have you ever felt like this man when you were invited to become involved in the Christian witness? Is it possible in that sense to stay in the house because we are afraid there are lions out there, and we might be hurt?
One reason many find it so comfortable to stay inside by the fire is because of spiritual uncertainty in their own lives. They realize deep down that their religion is just a habit or façade. They shrink from having it closely examined by others. So they stay away from witnessing because they aren't that sure of their own standing with God.
Another lion in the street is the fear of being pushed into a theological corner by someone asking hard questions. Have you ever wanted to stay inside by the fire because of that reason? We have a tendency to let the professionals do the witnessing for us, to let them face to lions in the street in our behalf. We figure that they are lion tamers! They are supposed to have all the right answers, and know how it's done.
A third lion in the street is the fear of failure. Have you ever tired to witness to someone, perhaps given Bible studies or whatever, and felt you failed? Have you been afraid that it was your fault that the people to whom you witnessed did not decide for God?
To deal with these lions on the street, I'd like to remind you that for the spiritually uncertain, to come into Jesus' presence is a motivating experience. When we know Jesus as our friend, and realize His loving acceptance, we will no longer be afraid of that particular lion. Second, the primary Christian witness is to tell others what Jesus means to us. And we can always admit that we don't know a theological answer, but are willing to search for it. And third, we have never been asked to weary ourselves over success. The results of our work are to be left in God's hands. God invites us today to become involved in active service for Him, and He will deal with the lions.
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