Thought for the Week 26th February 2017

How do I bring Jesus into a conversation?

 

As I mentioned previously, conversations with people can begin so easily and if we show genuine interest and concern for the person we are in conversation with then the talk can continue for a long time.   In many cases this can lead to ongoing conversations at different times and in different places, especially if we  talk about things that matter!

 

I have often found myself saying, ‘let’s chat some more next time you are in the gym’.  Or ‘Let’s have a coffee and talk some more…..’ 

 

A question that I am frequently asked is ‘How do I bring Jesus into a conversation’.

 

For Jesus, in His conversation with the woman at the well, it was not difficult for Him to talk about Jesus, because He is Jesus, he talked about Himself!

 

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? And them in v13

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

 Jesus drew her deeper into the conversation by arousing her curiosity about who He was and what He could do in her life.  We can’t do it exactly as Jesus did but we can arouse curiosity by talking about how Jesus is working in our lives.  We can talk about the ways that our faith is a real help to us as we face the same challenges that are being faced by the person that we are in conversation with.  We can mention such things as: answers to prayer, ways that we have felt God with us in times of challenge, how priorities in our life have changed as a result of our faith, specific ways that God is changing me, support and love of other Christians. 

I am convinced that people are far more interested to hear about our experiences of God working in our lives than we think.  If we want to bring Jesus into the conversation then we can naturally and in a non-preachy way just share the ways that we have known Jesus in the midst of the things that life throws at us. 

The person may not believe it straight away, or ever, but it will lead to the possibility of more conversations about faith!

This week ask the Lord to help you to talk about your faith more openly as you engage in conversation.