ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)–Before our south Louisiana dinner of crawfish and shrimp on Good Friday, my 11-year-old son, Jeremy, prayed a great prayer. “Lord,” he said, “Please help people to know there is more to Easter than chocolate and bunnies. Help them to know it’s about what You did for them.”
There wasn’t a happier daddy on the planet at that moment. I know Jeremy’s heavenly Father was beaming, too.
I’m afraid too many of us get caught up in extraneous activities and miss what God wants to do in and through us. It’s an age-old problem.
In Luke’s Acts 1 account of the ascension of the Lord, we see the same thing happening to the apostles.
Jesus tells the apostles to wait in Jerusalem because they are going to be baptized in the Holy Spirit in a matter of days.
After Jesus’ statement, the first question the disciples ask is, “Are you restoring the kingdom to Israel?” In essence, Jesus replies, “That’s none of your business.”
Then Jesus told the apostles what to focus on: witnessing.
He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After making this incredible mission statement, He was lifted out of the apostles’ sight into the clouds.
All the apostles could do was to stare in amazement.
It took two angels, dressed in white clothes, to get the followers of Jesus back on task. “Why are you standing here staring into the sky?” they asked. “Jesus will come back, just the way you saw him go.”
The crux of the angels’ message was, “Get busy doing what Jesus just told you. He’ll be back soon.”
I wonder if we need that same message today.
Most churches experienced a great celebration of Easter. Attendance was up. The music was spectacular. Now what do we do?
Some people will get together and bemoan the fact that all the CEOs showed up for Easter services. You know what CEOs are, don’t you? They are the Christmas-Easter-Only crowd.
Don’t have a negative attitude toward the CEOs. Instead, go out of your way to thank them for showing up.
Maybe if you would invite one or two of these twice-a-year folks to lunch, you could talk with them about their current walk with the Lord.
Some of these CEOs need salvation. Others need encouragement in their walk with the Lord. Some need help with hurts, habits or hang-ups that interfere with their relationship with Jesus.
Here’s a way to shift the lunch conversation from casual to spiritual: “I’m so glad you were in church Sunday. How is God working in your life right now?”
The person you’re talking with may not have an answer or he or she may have much to share. Whatever the case, be a great listener. After all, you asked.
When your friend finishes his or her story, you could make a request, “May I share with you how God has been working in my life?” Then share how you met Jesus and how God is using you right now.
If you want your lunchtime story to be effective, there are two keys. The first key is brevity. Share your story in two or three minutes. The second key is focus on Jesus. A spiritual conversation is about Jesus, not you.
Don’t be afraid to go deeper in the conversation. You could say, “Let me ask you another question. What do you think God requires for a person to go to heaven?”
If that person’s answer is anything other than faith in Jesus, be ready to share the Gospel.
Are you staring into the clouds after Easter? There are CEOs who may have sat in a pew next to you, who need to know the real message of Easter. Turn a lunch or a cup of coffee into an opportunity to share Jesus. If you don’t seize the moment, your next opportunity may not be until Christmas.
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Keith Manuel is an evangelism associate on the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s evangelism & church growth team.
