I’m in a bit of time crunch today. I have several appointments - I hate it when ministry interferes with my job. So, I may review this later and make some edits!
Let me explain more about the concept of intentional relationships. We are involved with many people on various different levels. We have friends, neighbors, co-workers and the stranger we meet here and there. There are numerous reasons for interacting with these people and differing ways in which we interact.
In our relationships with our immediate neighbors we seek to be intentional. The purposes of investing in their lives are many. The primary purpose is to live Christ among them. Secondary purposes include being a good neighbor or being a good person. Everything we do with them has as a primary purpose of being Christ among them. The result of which is we are good neighbors and good people.
The same is true, specifically of Beth, and her relationships with the girls on the softball team she coaches. Through this venue Beth has access into the lives of these girls and their families. We’ve been able to socialize with parents of school friends also because of the involvement Beth has in the school and PTA.
I’m not intending to brag, certainly some of you are far ahead of us in relational evangelism. I do want to leave the realm of theory and enter the reality of specifics. We eat with our neighbors, socialize with them, help them with yard projects, house projects, whatever way we can with specific intent. The time will come, for it is something I pray for, that we will engage in deeper conversations of faith. Those conversations will be genuine because of the groundwork of trust paved by relationship.
The most effective evangelists in Bible where those with a personal message. Those who simply shared what Jesus had done in their life attracted the largest audience. They had the greatest impact for the kingdom. That’s the intent of the relational evangelist. Pave the way for the opportunity to share what Jesus has done and is doing in your life. Perhaps our struggle with evangelism is we, ourselves, are not quite sure how to answer that question?
I’m not telling you anything new today - nothing you do not already know. I am reminding you to begin to invest yourself in the lives of those around you. Keep focused in the purpose of your relationships with others - that Christ may be seen.
10 Responses to “Intentional”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
September 27th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
Thanks Randy for this subject. I needed to be reminded to add the “intentional” part to my “nice guy persona” when I’m with people who I have relationships with but not the kind that matter the most. Those are the relationships that we have with folks who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
September 27th, 2005 at 1:29 pm
Do you know who Landon Saunders is? He is the voice of the Heartbeat program. Many years ago, I remember that he preached a sermon along these lines. It’s been long enough that I just remember a little bit, but he enforced the idea that we first have THE Relationship and then spread it around. That’s very concise, but that’s the way I remember it. I thought about that sermon as I read your comments today. It puts a new spin on my daily activities. Right now, my office is a pretty stress-filled place and people are suspicious of each other. It is a constant struggle to remember to let my light shine. “Intentional” could also mean making a conscious choice, and I have to remind me of that. Thanks for putting it in words that would be hard not to understand. It is a subject for much prayer……..
September 27th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
Jan and I just had lunch at Arby’s just a block from the house. We eat lunch there about three days a week, not because we particularly like the cuisine, but because of an 8?-year-old lady by the name of Florence. She has lunch there every day of the week. Lives alone. No family close by. So we decided to be very intentional about getting to know her. Now she expects us to eat our meal with her and we thoroughly enjoy visiting with her. As you said in your blogs, we’re just loving her and laying a foundation so that when the opportunity comes to share faith with her, we’ll have something to build on.
September 27th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
This post has been removed by the author.
September 27th, 2005 at 4:15 pm
Oh, yes … even if we never have the opportunity to share the Lord with Florence as we know the Lord (she is devout Catholic), we still have the joy of building this relationship! We found ourselves loving her and hugging her as if she were our own grandmother and she loves the attention and affection from these two YOUNG people!
September 27th, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Meowmix, Landon Saunders roomed in with father-in-law during college. I’ve never met him but my wife has.
September 27th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
Randy, as a young man, Landon attended Harding Graduate School in Memphis, and during that time, migrated to northeast Arkansas, first to teach school and then to preach in my hometown of Corning, Arkansas. He was there from the time I was 13 until I was around 20. An old Southern gospel quartet, the Florida Boys, sang a song called “The Good Folks in my Life,” and Landon is one of those in mine. He was a great teacher and example for me.
September 28th, 2005 at 8:20 am
Being a “Florida Boy” and having grown up watching a T.V. program called the “Gospel Jubilee,” I can say that I too remember listening to the “Florida Boys.” I also remember a film series in the early 80’s that we watched one summer at our church in Rockledge that was hosted by Landon Saunders. I think it was called “Home Is Where The Heart Is” or something like that.
September 28th, 2005 at 8:40 am
I have a friend who did ALL of his photocopy stuff done at the nearby PINKOS (is that the right name?) After about a year, he invited everyone of them to his home for a party.
Landon eats out a lot. Not too long ago he invited all the waiters and waitresses at his frequent eater place to his place and had a meal catered.
Both of these people did what they did to spread the love of God around. They certainly bring out the best in people. ychcqhha
September 28th, 2005 at 10:16 am
That sounds exactly like something I would expect Landon to do!
It is rare that I get an opportunity to see him, but he remains special in my life.