The Little Evangelist

I watched them as I walked behind them.
Grandparents having a special morning with their granddaughter.
She was animated…talking quickly…as she filled them in on everything important.

The day was absolutely gorgeous.
Blue sky…cotton candy clouds…70 degree weather…and it is the end of June!
A kind of day where all you can do is praise Him!

The little girl, of about eight years old, led the way.
She was trying desperately to describe a very special friend to her grandmother.
Whoever this person was, it seemed very important that her grandmother meet them.

I was soon going to go my own way.
But before I did, I was privileged to hear one more thing.

But you have to meet her…you would really like her.

I don’t think I will get the chance…

Oh, but you will…(the little girl said without letting her grandmother finish)
You could come to church with us and meet her there…

Aha…there it was!
A little evangelist in my midst.
There was no deceit or manipulation or pushiness in her countenance.
Just a sweet little girl who wanted two things from her grandmother.
One more important than the other.

As I walked away from them, I realized that the woman did not answer her granddaughter.
She was very noncommittal…as if this conversation happened before.

The little girl wanted her grandmother to meet her friend.
But I think she really wanted her grandmother to come to church most of all.
She wanted her to meet Jesus.

What she offered her grandmother was the perfect package.
Come to church…meet my friend.

We can all relate to this little one.
Loving someone so much…you want to love them into the Kingdom.

I have no way of knowing the grandmother’s heart.
But church was important to the little girl.
Important enough to want her grandmother there, too.

Once you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior…you want everyone else to know Him, too.
Sometimes that enthusiasm can be contagious.
Sometimes that enthusiasm can offend.

I have been on the other side of both responses.
Especially when it is family…close family…the offense can be very difficult to handle.
Rejection is painful.

He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects the one who sent Me. (Luke 10:16)

Jesus always referred to His Father as “the One who sent Me”.
Jesus is the “Sent One”.
Jesus knew rejection well.
He was often misunderstood.
In fact, as you read the Gospels you have the sense of Jesus getting lonelier and lonelier.
By the time He was on the cross, everyone left Him…except for His mother, and a few of the women who followed Him, and the disciple, John.

Jesus poured Himself into the teaching and discipleship of twelve ordinary men.
These men were sent out on mission.
They were told to preach His Word and do His work.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught.
(Mark 6:30)

The Twelve often misunderstood what Jesus was trying to teach them.
They often took things very literally.
They failed to see the spiritual meaning behind Jesus’ words.
But Jesus  made a promise to them.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16,17)

Jesus knew that they had trouble understanding…but the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

That is what I realized today.
We all have loved ones that may not know the Lord Jesus.

If only they could hear that sermon…
If only they would read that book…
If only they could come to a Bible study…

All those things are good things…but without the Holy Spirit to enlighten…to teach…to remind…it is JUST another sermon, another book, another Bible study.

We are not wrong to invite…like the precious little evangelist did today.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10: 17)

But the most important thing we can do…before anything else…is PRAY.
Pray for their ears to be opened, their eyes to see, and their hearts to be receptive to the message.

The little girl did the right thing.
I pray with all my heart that her grandmother really heard her.
I pray that she will accept her invitation.
I pray that her grandmother comes to know Jesus.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14, 15)

The little girl…with the beautiful feet…bringing good news.