Weekly Thought – December 9, 2014
Fred readily acknowledged those who influenced his thinking. For example, he often referred to Oswald Chambers as his daily theologian. As a lifelong learner, Fred’s antennae were always alerted to those who clarified or introduced ideas. In turn, he did this for many.
The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute and the Breakfast With Fred Project are based on 2 Timothy 2:2 in which Paul encourages his young protege to find men and women who will continue the passing on of truth.
Does Success Trump Saintliness? (Part 4)
E. Stanley Jones greatly affected me when he said that the difference between Christianity and other religions was based on the fact that in Christianity “the Word became flesh but in other religions the word remained word.” Frankly, I believe the greatest witness a Christian can ever have is to allow the Word to become flesh.
Personally, I’ve never been a very vocal witnessing Christian in the business community. There was a time when I became concerned about this. Then I began learning about the functioning of the Holy Spirit. Up until that time I hadn’t realized that my only job was to sow seed under the direction of the Spirit.
I had been intimidated by the compulsive witnesses. In a mood of honest experimentation one morning I told God, “Today I won’t duck.” By that I meant that if the subject came up I wouldn’t duck it, but at the same time I would not feel any responsibility for bringing up the subject with anyone. And each morning since then before leaving for work I’ve prayed to not duck. I have had some of the most interesting opportunities to witness – along with some fascinating temptations to duck.
What I mean by not ducking is to talk about my faith or about the Lord whenever it comes up naturally in any conversation or situation just as I would talk about any other subject. I don’t pick “witness targets.” I don’t try to manipulate people or massage the conversation to create openings. When I do there is an artificiality, not a spirituality. And, I don’t try to take over the conversation on the pretense that I am witnessing.
Again and again, the Holy Spirit has brought up the subject so naturally in some very strange places. For example, at a dinner of drunks in Las Vegas… a cocktail party in Detroit… a business conference in New York. And for this Southern Baptist, teetotaler, these are indeed unusual but true experiences that come up through my business life. When the Holy Spirit leads, powerful things happen; when I try it on my own, the effort fizzles.
Think about this: 1) How do I let the Holy Spirit lead? 2) What does “don’t duck” mean to me? 3) When have I felt the power of the Holy Spirit in conversations?
Words of Wisdom: “I have had some of the most interesting opportunities to witness – along with some fascinating temptations to duck.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.”(Deuteronomy 11:19 NET Bible)