We’ve A Story to Tell

by Sue Harris

Each of these devotional blogs entries is meant to be read on your own or if you have family or friends you live with, to be read together aloud. A suggestion is to do this after you have dinner around the table together. At the conclusion, please spend time in personal reflection or in sharing with one another your answers to the questions at the end. Be sure to conclude with prayer.

Read Matthew 4:18-22

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19

It was a beautiful fall day. The baby was napping, and our 3 year old, Melinda, was playing on the front porch (or so I thought!). Hearing the doorbell ring, I pulled my hands from the dishwater, grabbed a towel, and quickly answered the door. Quizzically, I looked at our neighbor who had our toddler by the hand. He began to relate to me how Melinda was going door to door in the neighborhood asking whoever answered her knock, “If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven?”

For some neighbors this was a disturbing question, especially coming from a 3 year old! As new Christians, we were excited about our new-found relationship with Christ and made it a habit to ask that thought provoking question to anyone God would lead us. We would then proceed to present the plan of salvation to them and we ended with a joyous “birthday” celebration for the new believer which included presenting them with a new bible after writing their “spiritual birthday” in it.

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

Melinda had witnessed us sharing the plan of salvation with friends and was emulating what she saw us do. And, not only did the angels celebrate whenever a sinner came to Christ, but so did we!

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Acts 1:8 instructs us that we “will be [Christ’s] witnesses.” In other words, we are to share with others our personal story of how we came to accept Jesus as our Savior. So, I end with this question: when was the last time you shared your testimony of salvation?

Questions to share around the dinner table:

Tell your “story” of how you found Jesus. (If you don’t know Him as your personal Savior, now is a great time to pray a simple prayer of repentance and acceptance.)
- Acknowledge you are a sinner and need Jesus forgiveness
- Believe that Jesus can forgive your sins right now
- Confess your sins and claim Jesus’ promise of eternal life
After your “born again” experience, who was the first person you shared your new found faith with?
When was the last time you were a witness for Jesus?