Talking Jesus Over Tomatoes

May 5, 2010
Posted by
VOM Newsletter
Categories
encouragement

800px-Fresh_tomatoes Sometimes I find myself in the mindset that sharing Christ with others is hard, especially in our culture, where many people are afraid to discuss religion. The example of our brothers and sisters in Egypt, however, showed me how easy it is to show Jesus to others through simple actions.

 

Brother Nasser is an evangelist in Cairo. He says, “In my heart, I have a deep feeling that the Lord says it’s time for harvest.” For Brother Nasser, sharing Christ is not about flipping over an orange crate on a street corner, tucking a Bible under one arm and shouting through a megaphone. He has to create opportunities in his regular life.

 

Brother Nasser always buys his groceries at the same little neighborhood supermarket. He chose this market because he could tell by the shop owner’s long beard that the man is a pious Muslim. Nasser visits the shop only when it is not crowded, so he has a chance to stop and talk with the owner. The man knows Nasser is a Christian. “I always give him love and respect,” said Nasser. “We discuss the traditions that we both have to be close to God.”

 

Nasser and the shop owner have been talking for more than a year. “As a friendship relationship, I gave him the New Testament when no one was there. I said to him, ‘Can I give you our Bible so you can see what we are learning from it?’ He was curious to take it.

 

“I showed him Matthew 5 — where Jesus was teaching on the mountain, ‘Love your enemies, pray for them.’ I showed him that we don’t live as the world is teaching us: to fight our enemies. We have to love them. He said he was surprised. He said it was too hard for him to do that.

 

“I said, ‘Yes it is too hard. But if you ask the Lord, ask God to help you live this, he will give you authority and will help you to make it.’ He promised me that he would read this Bible and would pray for the real God to show him the truth.”

 

Brother Nasser showed me how easy it can be to share Christ. But I have to be intentional about it, creating opportunities and being wise about my approach.