I recently went to the doctor. It wasn't a serious issue but I was concerned about it none-the-less. I had never been to this doctor before and as I sat in his office he asked a common question, "what do you do?" For a pastor, that is often a dreaded question. Not because I'm ashamed of being a pastor by any means, but because it sometimes shuts down a conversation rather than furthering it. I answered the doctor's question, "I'm a pastor". Looking back at this simple conversation, I realized his response was not one of disdain or an attitude of "I really don't want to talk about God", but of genuine interest. I immediately said my church was Laurentian Wesleyan Church and proceeded to tell him where it was. Then we quickly switched back to the purpose of my visit and the moment passed. I say "the moment passed" because as I look back, I do believed I missed a moment to continue our conversation with a simple, "do you go to church?" or "are you a person of faith?" I believe God may have opened the door, but, in hindsight, I didn't walk through it.
I was prepared. If he had asked a question about our church or about faith in Christ, I was ready and willing to talk about it (1 Peter 3:15). But I don't think I was something equally as important as being prepared. I wasn't watching. I didn't seize this simple opportunity because, let's face it, that visit was all about me. My health. My issues. Nothing more. But as a follower of Christ, I'm to put others first. I'm reminded of Philippians 2:3-4, "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too" (NLT).
My conversation that day may not have progressed beyond small talk...but you never know. I'm going to be more attentive in the future.
Be prepared. But be watching too.
In Christ,
-Jason
I was prepared. If he had asked a question about our church or about faith in Christ, I was ready and willing to talk about it (1 Peter 3:15). But I don't think I was something equally as important as being prepared. I wasn't watching. I didn't seize this simple opportunity because, let's face it, that visit was all about me. My health. My issues. Nothing more. But as a follower of Christ, I'm to put others first. I'm reminded of Philippians 2:3-4, "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too" (NLT).
My conversation that day may not have progressed beyond small talk...but you never know. I'm going to be more attentive in the future.
Be prepared. But be watching too.
In Christ,
-Jason
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