Are we there yet?

I'm finding it hard to fit evangelism into my life at present.That might sound odd to anyone who knows me, as I'm very committed to reaching out with the gospel. But the truth is that at present I'm a bit too disconnected from the people I could reach out to.

My job currently means that I spend long periods of time on the phone or email to people, whilst sat at my desk at home. Consequently I rarely see anyone to chat to casually, other than the odd few minutes here and there as I bump into a neighbour as they walk from car to house or vice versa.

Off to the pub!
As a cell we've tried to resolve this common problem by holding the odd cell meeting in a local pub, but it proved almost impossible to hold a conversation on the nights we went due to a combination of overly loud music (Which is saying something as I have a reputation for liking my music loud) and a pub quiz-master who was determined that his voice would prevail over all others courtesy of the pub PA.

I pride myself (I know pride is dangerous) on witnessing in word or deed whenever I get the slightest chance, and I know from people's feedback that I usually manage to strike the right balance between delivering the gospel clearly without causing offence. So this lack of evangelistic opportunities is a source of much frustration and not a few grumpy prayers.

"Lord," I whine "what is going on? I've been praying for people for years now and still there is little sign of any impact! I have tried to be creative, I've worked hard to ensure that what I share is biblical, I've avoided all those horrible; are-you-washed-in-the-blood-of-the-Lamb clichés. What more do I need to do?"

The penny droppeth!
Of course I know the answer. I know that what I need to do is to keep on praying and to keep on trying. I know that the likes of the Westleys and Whitefield had long periods of seeing nothing happen, I know that Jesus spent most of his life in waiting and preparing. But none of this makes it any easier.

In recent months, the truth is that I have seen some slight glimmerings of the harvest growing...ever so slowly. God has blessed us with a burst of people being wonderfully healed, and I have been involved in events in other towns where people have been saved. But still I'm impatient and frustrated that it's not happening here in Bury as quickly as I'd like!

The view from heaven
Just as my frustration starts to eat away at my faith I catch a glimpse of things from God's perspective. As ever it takes me somewhat by surprise as the penny drops. God waited patiently for me, it was a sign of His love, that He did not zap me the first time I sinned, or the first time I heard the gospel and walked away with my heart hardened. Father waited until I was ready to trust Him. He worked hard over many years to soften my heart with His love - so I need to be patient whilst He is at work on other hearts that have become hard and callused through sin.

Farmers know that it's no use shouting at the wheat to hurry up and ripen. They know that their job is to patiently tend it until it is ripe and ready for the gathering. Like them I'll have to keep on doing what it's right to do until it's harvest time.

For some people Bethlehem Live may be harvest time, the time when they are born again. For others is will simply be a time of being watered and fed. Lord grant us the wisdom to know who is ready for harvesting and who needs patient feeding and watering, and please give us the love and the patience to wait for them as you waited for us.