PAUL FOLLOWS HIS saying to the Corinthians that he had become their “father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” by saying, “I urge you, then, be imitators of me” (1 Cor. 4:15–16). He expects his converts to convert, to become creative in Christ. He wanted his converts to be converted in his image; he wanted his spiritual children to be like him—contagious.
The only real proof of being in Christ is that we are getting others into Christ. The only proof of our being alive is that we are creating life. Nothing is ours till we share it. The end of evangelism is to produce evangelists. We really haven’t got people in unless they immediately begin to bring others in. They are not in until they go out.
New converts make the best evangelists. They cannot preach, so they do what they can do—witness. Witnessing is more effective than preaching in winning others. Witnessing comes from the heart—preaching may come from the head. That which is to reach the heart must come from the heart.
A colonel of the American army was a broken man; his wife had died and he had no resources to meet life alone. He tried suicide, and it didn’t work. He tried Christ, and that did work. He became a changed man. He was taken out as a partner in a visitation evangelism campaign, but he was all shut up within himself and let his companion do the talking. The fourth night his companion said, “You’re to take the initiative tonight.” He consented on one condition: “If I begin to fumble the ball, you will pick it up and take over.” The companion consented. He had scarcely begun the conversation when he became a changed man. He simply poured out his soul to the judge whom they were trying to win. He won the judge and his wife to a decision, and then went on to win the biggest oil man in that section—three the first night. He has been contagious ever since. He was really in when he got out!
O Father, Thou hast given me life, not to keep it, but to share it. Make me an illustration of “freely have I received, so freely must I give.” I would share what has been shared with me. Today make all my contacts spiritually contagious. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My converts have not converted until they become converted from me to my Savior.
