After a few minutes of waiting, he walked into the room. A tall man wearing glasses with a kind smile. He carried a manilla folder under this arm. He reached out to shake my hand and Turner's. The doctor sat down and asked Turner what happened. Turner relayed how he injured his left knee in a football game two weeks ago.
Next, he posted the MRI results on a device so we could look at the images together. He pointed out several things and then gave his diagnosis. Then we talked about options for surgery and how he would suggest repairing the knee.
I was impressed with how much time he took with us. He comes highly recommended. He did not rush us through like cattle through the chutes. Then, he asked if either Turner or I had any other questions.
jI replied, "Yes I do. It is a personal question. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" He didn't look offended or surprised. Calmly he said, "Yes I do." We smiled the smile shared between strangers but knowing we are also related through the blood of Jesus.
Asking that one question seems off limits in these politically charged times. People get afraid they might offend someone. The gospel is an offensive message to some. A stumbling block. Foolishness. I would rather offend people here and now than have them offend a righteous God at the Judgement Seat of Christ. It's worth it to me if people can be rescued from eternal hell fire damnation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
God has given us the ministry of talking to people so that they can be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. That means we are His representatives. Wherever we go. We are to represent Him on official business. In a barber shop. I tried out a new barbershop yesterday and witnessed to the owner. She says she is saved and not involved in a church. I invited her to Spring Creek. We can talk about Jesus anywhere.That includes at restaurants, doctor examination rooms, at little league games, next door, across the street and even around the world.
Christ has been shared with many people over the years. There are some people it takes time. A relationship has to be established. Trust has to be built. There were others it happens much more quickly. Either way, I have discovered that you still have to cross that bridge and ask the personal question about a person's relationship with Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, I got to explain the difference between religion teaching you have to do something to earn God's approval with salvation, and Jesus already having done everything needed for our salvation. Jesus is the difference between doing and done. His death on the cross is sufficient. Salvation is a gift if we believe Him for it by faith.
It is a privilege to get to talk about Jesus to other people. As His ambassadors, I hope and pray we're continually looking for opportunities to do that. It can start just by asking a personal question.
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