The Unexpected Adventure- UA 15- "Mountaintop Experience" Luke 6:45
At first blush, many of the UA chapters appear to be repetitive in their message. However, if I allow myself time to ponder, pray and masticate on the text, subtle, yet important differences start to emerge. UE 15 is an example of that. At first reading it appeared the lesson was the same. Be ready to start a Kingdom conversation, take the opportunity when it arises and don't beat the person over the head with a leather-covered edition of the KJV. In fact after reading the chapter last night, I was a bit bummed because there was no new lesson, or so I thought.
I reread the chapter this evening, and a light bulb went on.
In chapter 15, Mark tells about a hiking/camping trip he and his wife, Heidi, took in the Beartooth Mountains. One morning they went on a day hike with a stranger, Dan. As they hiked and discussed the beauty of the flowers, Mark decided to take a Kingdom conversation chance. He mentioned that God must have had quite the imagination to create such beauty and how creative the Creator must be. Nothing more. No Bible verses. Just a mention of God in the course of the conversation.
Dan took the bait. He stated that he did not believe in God. Mark did not immediately jump on that statement, but ask some questions to get a picture of Dan's belief system. On the way back down the mountain, Mark was able to share some of the reasons why he believed in God and how God had changed hi life.
What stood out for me in this particular chapter was the way Mark had used a Kingdom neutral item (the flowers) to casually start a Kingdom conversation. Jesus modeled this witnessing approach in John 4 when he "casually" asked the Samaritan woman for a drink from a well. From this seemingly inconsequential question, "many more because believers".
God can use the insignificant to change lives.
Amother (more) insight from the mountain hike story. Mark LISTENED before (as, during the process) as he talked. So often those of us who try to witness feel we need to do all the talking.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we earn the right to talk by first of all listening...really listening...giving full attention to listening...empathetically listening.