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“Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.”

Isaiah 55:5

What would make you reach out to a stranger, or compel a stranger to come to you? Usually, the answer is because you have something for them. I don’t know the barista at the coffee shop, but I go to her because she’s got coffee (and WiFi). God was going to bless the nation of Israel with something, and that something was going to be worth giving out to the nations.

God promised to Abraham “In you will all nations be blessed.” This blessing is the gospel of Jesus Christ. God is the only one worthy of glory. So when God glorified us it was by putting Himself in us. Christ in us is what we have to offer to the nations.

I know for myself, I feel awkwardness when reaching out to a stranger with the gospel. But it’s because I’m looking to my feelings, not wanting to inconvenience someone with a topic they’re not interested in or look down on, or looking to my own lack of words or ability. The truth is “how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

The world is longing for Jesus, though it doesn’t know it. Longing for someone to love them unconditionally, for safety and provision, for happiness. These things only come from a relationship with Jesus. Found outside Him they are only temporary.

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. ” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The enemy has blinded the eyes of the lost to the gospel. Only God can open the eyes of the spiritually blind, so pray for the ones you reach out to that the Holy Spirit would open their eyes and shine the light of Jesus in their heart. Remember that it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to bring people into God’s kingdom. Our role is to be available to the Spirit’s call to speak or pray. God is the one that does the work.

Remember that God has glorified us by putting Jesus in us. Our light is able to overcome the blindness of those in the world because it comes from God. He has commissioned us to spread that light and provided the Holy Spirit to accomplish it. So go and call out to some strangers!

-Ethan Carriger