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I have been sharing my faith for many years one on one with people. Recently, God gave me a new approach. This question:
So, How long have you been trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
I ask complete strangers this question in the following manner.
I get their attention first. “Hey, I have a question for you.”
“How long have you been trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”
This is a quick and easy question to ask, even your busy waitress at a restaurant or the cashier at a store. Often they will pause, think and say “Since I was a little child.” or “For as long as I can remember.” Usually, they say it with a smile and a look of wonderment, “how did you know?”
That is when you encourage their faith and place a seed of remembrance of Jesus into their thoughts. There is a whole host of things you could say to encourage them. If they have not taken time lately for Jesus, you might suggest that He is calling out to them through your encounter. They might need prayer or ask you to pray for them. Remind them of how much they are loved.
Another possibility is that they say something like this, “I used to go to church when I was younger or a child.” Then I would ask them if they ever placed their trust in Jesus as their Savior back then? If the answer is yes, I remind them that even though they have not thought of Jesus lately, He has never forgotten, left or forsaken them. I point them back to Jesus and encourage them, remind them they are greatly loved and encourage them to take some time for Him. Remind them of God’s promised salvation for all who believe. Encourage them in the faith.
All of those I have just mentioned will usually have a look of wonder on their face. Their expression is asking, “how did you know?” But they rarely ask this question with words. You are bringing Jesus to the forefront of their thoughts, an encounter that they have never experienced before; your words will remain with them for a while. This encounter may make a huge difference in their future, giving them hope again. Maybe they are at a place of great confusion and do not know where to turn. God is using you to point them back to Jesus.
If the person looks at you like you are an alien when you ask them our question. You can probe a bit asking how they were raised. They still may have gone to church as a kid, and they may have asked Jesus to save them back then. If that is the case, remind them that Jesus has never left them or forsaken them and that He is calling out to them at that moment.
In my actual experience, asking this question, many people who you may think do not know Jesus will tell you they are trusting Him for their salvation and have been since they were a child. In the United States, I have found that more say they are trusting Jesus, then they do not know Him. This has surprised me. Many of these people do not look like the perfect Christian and do not go to church. If they have no experience with Jesus or reject God, there is a whole host of things you can do. The best thing is to ask questions. It keeps the burden off you. You can come up with your own follow-up questions or use some of these ideas.
- Why aren’t you trusting Jesus for your salvation?
- Why don’t you believe in God?
- How were you raised? If Christian, did you ever place your trust in Jesus? (If yes, remind them Jesus has not left them or forsaken them,) What stopped your further pursuit of Jesus and the things of God? Offer Gravity.
- Would you believe God exists if I could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt? (Introduce Gravity a free book here, easy to read.)
- Give them the good person test here, if they are hard-hearted and self-righteous. Jesus always gave the law to the proud and grace to the humble.
I have found our question to be a real door opener. A chance to encourage and build a person up in the faith, to remind believers Jesus has never forgotten about them or to point the lost to Jesus and salvation. This question brings everyone's attention to Jesus.
“How long have you been trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”
More Studies that apply:
If You Believe You Have Been Saved
Did Jesus Sacrifice Provide Forgiveness for Our Future Sins Too? Yes
God's Exclamation Point, The Free Gift of Righteousness
Our Righteousness in Christ, Not Condemnation, is the Justice God Seeks
Leave the Burden on God
Jesus Did Not Die to See If You Can Qualify
We Need Jesus for Righteousness, Not Happiness
God WILL NOT Erase Your Name from of the Book of Life, Christian
What is the One Unforgivable Sin?
Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross.
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20
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God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
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