Category Archives: Evangelism

A Coffee Shop Legacy

Coffee ShopThe other day I was headed into my favorite coffee shop. I noticed an older gentleman getting out of his car.  He was kind of hunched over and moving very slowly. I noticed him in the store cleaning off the condiment area.  I thought, “man, that’s a nice guy cleaning the table.” Then I noticed him neatly placing a stack of Our Daily Bread devotionals on the condiment table.

I was so heartened and encouraged by what he’d done. Here is an old man in the last years of his life and what is he concerned about? His retirement? Enjoying the leisure life on the golf course? No, he was concerned with the eternal life of others. What an incredible legacy to leave.

I wonder how many people he influenced for God through the kind act of leaving devotionals where they might pick them up.

He reminds me of Caleb, who at 85 was still ready for battle.  He was God’s warrior, no matter what his age.

My bet is that kind of ministry keeps that godly gentleman young.

Psalm 92:14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.

Going where the fish are

I was watching this guy fish this morning.  He doesn’t have a rod.  He’s throwing the fishing line in by hand.  While he was on the shore, he caught nothing.  Although you probably can’t tell it from the picture, he’s actually standing on a bolder that is farther out into the water.  Once he moved onto the bolder, he began to catch fish.

That reminded me of a verse that I read this morning during my devotions.  It is from Acts 2.  The Holy Spirit has descended on the disciples.  They began to supernaturally speak in the languages of those visiting Jerusalem at the time.  The people were hearing praises to God in their own languages.  Then Peter stood up and began preaching the good news about Jesus to them.  One of the things he said struck me.

Acts 2:39 (NIV) “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

The promise of a changed life through Jesus is also for “all who are far off.”  How do we reach those who are far off?  You got to go further out to where they are just like the fisherman.  You can’t reach them from the shore (the church building), you must go out to them.  What step can you take today to get closer to those that need Jesus?