Go ye into all the world

Sorry I haven't kept up with this like I planned to - I should never say I am going to do something "every day" - it should be more like "every day that I have time to focus on it"!

Anyway, enough with the excuses, on to the questions for Section #3
And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ; have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ?

I am not much of a witness.  I post things on facebook, but that is pretty easy.  Granted, occasionally I post in areas where the "general train of thought" is not Christian and I get some passive-aggressive, critical posts under mine, but that is no big deal.  Just address it if it will help (it usually doesn't) or just go on. 

I tell others about Christ, but it is generally in response to them asking first.  My husband and I support ministries and missionaries financially.  But I, myself, am not much of an evangelist. 

On one hand, I do certainly believe that we are witnesses with our lives - on the other hand, I do not believe that "lifestyle evangelism" (ie, I will just be really nice and someone will say Gee! She is really nice! and ask why and then I will tell them about Jesus who makes me really nice) is an effective means of spreading the gospel.  There are lots of lost people, dead in their trespasses, who still manage to fit nicely into society's standards, and even smile and act friendly (and don't get me started on the people who try to wave you out into traffic and think they are being nice - argh).  I think it is a cop-out.  On the other hand, I think you can certainly be a witness AGAINST Christ with your lifestyle.  Please don't tell anyone you are a follower of Christ and then flip people off in traffic, speak rudely to waitresses and cashiers, engage in fornication/adultery/pornography, gossip against your brothers, chitchat about the ungodly programming you watch, and refuse to repent....all the good you do will probably not be attributed to Christ, but the evil you do will bring cries of, "Hypocrite" quickly. 

And rightly so.

Has my life shown Jesus to the lost?

I don't really know many lost people - or at least, many unchurched people.  I think there are a lot of people out there that are as "lost as lost can be", to quote one of my favorite preachers.  And they are sitting in pews, and they think that because someone explained a few verses to them and led them in a prayer they are now saved.  I heard a new expression this week "Once Prayed, Always Saved" (a play on "once saved, always saved") from another of my favorite preachers.  Yep, you got it - say this prayer, tell the congregation on Sunday morning, get dunked on Sunday evening, and you are SAVED, Brother.  The fact that millions pray and get dunked, and then continue in their ungodly lifestyles, excusing adultery and fornication, gossip and hatred, sowing dissension among the brethren, and are without repentence, should be proof that this really isn't working.  But hey, get them to pray, report it back to your evangelism team at church, mark up another number on your board for the quarter, perhaps do a little high-fiving and you are doing God's work, Baby!

Okay, I digressed there.  This isn't about what others do wrong, it is supposed to be about what am I doing, or the lack in what I am doing. 

I do try to witness with my life (see "Lifestyle Evangelism" above) - but I think that is just something I fall back into.  It is so easy, you know, and once that mindset is in place.....but I so easily fall into sinful attitudes.  And I also think that I am more caught up in doctrinal issues than true issues of salvation.

But going out into the world and truly telling people about Christ?  I fall so short.  Fear, pride, a need to present a "perfect" witness, all these play into this.  I admire a local pastor who says that Walmart is his church.  He goes to Walmart, because that is where you find a lot of lost people who need to h ear the gospel.  I go to Walmart because I really like their store brand of laundry detergent.  There seems to be a disconnect there.  Oh Lord, forgive me.  Touch my heart, cause me to grieve for the lost like you do.

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. 

It is His grace that saves, not your works, not how hard you try, or how often you repeat the prayer, or read it off a card. 

And if you truly are saved, then your life will begin to show it.  You will repent of your sins, not because they cause you pain or grief, but because in your love for Christ you see how they cause him grief.  You cannot bear to sin against a Holy God.  Turn away from the lies and promises of sin - put your faith in the promises of God.  Call upon Christ to save you from the guilt and punishment of bondage.  Put all your hope on all that God is for you in Jesus.  Begin to read the Bible to find his precious and great promises for you, and find a Bible-believing church and worship and grow with other believers who treasure Christ above all.  You will desire baptism, so that you can be obedient to the Lord that you love.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.  Follow him.  He has redeemed you.  I know, for He has redeemed me.