Let me put you in the shoes of my team really quickly. Let me walk you through a typical world race day here is Lesotho, one week left on the international mission field.
On a typical day here, for ministry, we walk through the dirt fields to the remote villages hidden between the mountains; shepards tending to their flocks scattered throughout the open fields. We walk up to peoples front doors and ask if we can talk, maybe sit down and help them with their dishes or to help them fetch water. We talk about Jesus, I love it. Usually they love it too.
On one of our last days of ministry here in Lesotho, we woke up and got dressed for the day with the expectation that we were going to a book fair in a more distant village, a car ride and then an hour walk away. We were excited to have a day where we would get to see a different aspect of ministry than we had been encountering. As we were leaving at 9am for the day, we were informed that the book fair (what a Lesothian book fair would look like I had no idea), was canceled and that we would instead being going to a school. Cool.
We arrived to the school, a high school, probably only about a 20 minute walk away. Upon arriving to the school we were told we were immediately going to speak to the classes. “Make sure you tell us ahead of time next time so we’re prepared,” the head of the school told us.
“Yeah let us know ahead of time too,” echoed all of our thoughts as we realized that the school as well as ourselves were completely taken off guard by what the day would hold.
“Ok you guys can go in right now. What are you teaching on?”
We had no idea we’d be there, but we were teaching to the school that day. Thankfully, we are a group of people that is very familiar with this type of being put on the spot. With less than 5 minute of preperation, my friend; Kennedy, was giving a bible lesson to the 8th and 9th grade classes. I was able to teach on the plan of the enemy and Zacchaeus to the 10th and 11th graders. Some of my other friends introduced the group, ran games, and my friend; Lydia, ended up standing in front of the class of students and at their request singing Gospel music.
The beauty of the opportunity to freely share the Gospel here was not lost on me.
The thing that struck me was how easily we were able to stand up and share the Gospel without preperation. Honestly if you watched us in front of a classroom, you’d probably think there was a whole lot of preparing behind it, despite there being none.
This is less of a testament to us and a testament to the fact that Jesus power is made perfect in our weakness. We can share the Gospel easily because we have allowed ourselves to be put in positions where we have to. We have been put in positions where our knowledge of scripture was tested. If I’ve learned anything, it is that I have so much to learn.
In this famous passage in Ephesians, it explains the importance of being ready with the Gospel:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor or God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Frick! The belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, feet fitted with the READINESS that comes from the Gospel of peace! This stuff is Truth! This stuff is essential!
I want to always be ready to share the Truth with anyone in front of me, in whatever situation I am in. I pray that the Lord keeps putting me in positions to test me. I pray that I am not content with surface knowledge but that I would marinate in the truth that it is essential to have the word of God tucked firmly in my heart.
What situations have you put yourself in recently that allow for the grace and wisdom of Christ to fill in the cracks where you are not capable?
This is RICH. What a testament to the time spent with the Lord, truly knowing His character and His goodness, and being eagerly ready to share about Him. Praise GOD for open doors and willing hearts. Y’all are incredible.