Timing & Tone Matter!

I recently found myself in a situation where I wanted to share with someone about how important it is to make a decision for Christ. It was kind of difficult because this person, who I care about very much, has chosen not to follow Christ. Anyway, this person's father is near death, and because I'm also concerned about where this person's father will spend eternity, I decided to try and tactfully approach the subject. We have had discussions about Christianity in the past, but this person has never been very receptive to anything I have ever had to say.

Sharing the gospel really is difficult sometimes. For me, it isn't because I'm timid about what I believe in, or because I doubt my ability to explain the gospel message. I find it difficult because I recognize that there are often some very legitimate reasons for why people have chosen to not yield their lives to Jesus Christ, and I don't want anything that I say about God, or the way in which I say it, to be yet one more stumbling block in the way of someone coming into right standing with God. That is why I try my best to always be sensitive about letting the Holy Spirit prompt me when the timing may be right to speak with someone about Jesus. And I always try to share the gospel in a loving way. Sadly, there have been more times in my life than I care to admit when my zeal and ignorance about when and how to share about God has clouded my judgment, and I probably did more harm than good.

I know there may be some who would contend that any time is a good time to tell somebody about Jesus, but I disagree. When we share about Jesus, and how we share the message, is extremely important. I am of the opinion that God continually presents each of us with opportunities to share about Jesus—but I would contend that shouting "Jesus wants to save you from hell" to a complete stranger out of your car window as you drive through a toll booth is not how God draws it up.

I don't always get my timing or tone correct when I share about Jesus, but this doesn't mean I should give up. I just keep asking God to help me get better at it. I want to share my love for Jesus as much as I can, but I need to be sensitive about whether my timing and tone are right. The last thing God desires is for me to arrogantly force-feed the gospel to someone, and/or to do it at a time when He has not first softened this person's heart and prepared this person to receive the loving message about Jesus.

Because of how much I care about this person, and about this person's father who is near death, I'm praying that my timing and my tone were correct in this recent encounter.