Encouragement

THE LOST ARE ALL AROUND US AND SOME ARE IN VERY CRITICAL SITUATIONS

by Marilyn (Marolyn) Tocker 
07/20/21
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Usually, when shopping, walking, jogging, or purchasing gas, I speak to strangers about Jesus, give them a tract of scriptures about salvation, and refer them to a church, or an online Christian ministry. This spring for about three weeks, I did not feel at all like approaching strangers and didn’t.

Then one day in my prayer time, a thought came, telling me to resume talking to strangers about Him. I knew Jesus was speaking to me!  So, I did, and continue to do so.  I’ve learned to implore Him to give me His heart for the lost, and He does. He slowly takes away the feeling of not wanting to do it and gives me His peace.

Recently I heard the testimony of a young man raised in a Christian family who wanted to continue living a hedonistic lifestyle and told the Lord to leave him alone.  He heard these words, “I was beaten, tortured, and murdered because I love you." He repented.  I try to keep these words in my heart when preparing to go out.

Three weeks ago, walking out of a supermarket, I noticed a young woman nearby putting groceries in her car.  There was no one else around. It seemed that she was the person Jesus wanted me to speak to. I approached her and talked to her about Him. She informed me that she had been praying to the Lord, but there was no response.  Her next statement stunned me, "I'm a drug addict and I want to end my life."  She sees a doctor twice a week. She said maybe I was a sign. I said yes, I was, and that He had shown me to approach her, to talk to her about Him, and to tell her that He loves her very much. I said that I would pray for her.

She lives in a neighboring city and adamantly told me that the church she attends there rejects her. I gave her a tract and recommended that she visit an evangelical church just outside of the city. She thanked me for coming to talk to her. We exchanged phone numbers and texted later that evening. She did not respond to my text the next day. I'm praying for her.

What if the woman who shared the gospel with me years ago had decided not to talk to me about Jesus because she didn't feel like doing it?  I pondered.  Where would I be today? I may have committed suicide because I was suicidal at that time.

I’m so very glad that I obeyed Him so that she could hear how much He loves her and that she is precious to Him.