"As You Go"

  We hear over and over, teaching/preaching on the evils of the world. It is true there is so much evil around us and that evil can impact our attitudes and thinking. But there is something more. We don't need to shell up and avoid the lost world. How are we to go about converting people to Jesus if we never have contact with them? I'm afraid that we are losing the mind-set of conversion. We are unsure of what to say or do around those lost. We work with people, live by people and shop with people daily that are separated from Jesus and headed to an eternal doom. We have family that is headed to an eternal ruin. They need to hear a message of hope and salvation. But how do we do this? God doesn't really say. Everyone seems to have their 'formula' for outreach. There is no certain way. Here is what the apostle Paul taught on outreach: "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity." (Col. 4:5) Right there we read it. A wise conduct looking for opportunities. A word spoken. An interest shown in someone's life or family. A prayer offered for an illness or someone who experienced a death in their family. These are all opportunities if only we would use wisdom and see them. 

  There are no 'programs' that one can formulate on out-reach that are more effective than others. Have you ever thought why the Scriptures never spoke of an organized program? There's nothing wrong with an organized program but people get so comfortable with them, when there is nothing organized they feel as if nothing is being done. They feel the church is not fulfilling its mission and along with that attitudes start turning, and not for the better. Programs come and go by the way-side. Its always been like that. I can't tell you the number of programs I have been a part of over the years and today, they are dead in the water. I'm glad I worked them but it makes one be honest and think why is it this way.

  Then if we would listen closely to Jesus, as He spoke His last words to His apostles: "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matt. 28:19) What did Jesus mean? Some say this is a command for us. Is it really? The term 'go' is not an imperative in the Greek which means its not a command. It literally says, "As you go..." There is the tool for outreach. "As you go" is what we need to do. When the persecution arose against the church that began in Jerusalem on Pentecost, the brethren were scattered and they simply went about teaching (Acts 8:4). "As you go" to work, to play, to home, to eat, to visit, to whatever it is you go do, use wisdom and make the most of an opportunity presented. That's how we have an out-reach. That's what makes the church so unique and different. We have a message and that message needs to be taught. People need a Savior from their sins. It's just plain and simple. "As you go" is about as natural of evangelism that one can have and that's what Jesus still wants today .Maybe if we would stop reading everyone's formulas and programs and start reading the word in its simplicity we would reach more of the lost. When Jesus reached out to help someone, He always taught a message of truth to save, not just simply offered help!