Seed Planting

I ran across a show about patients in drug rehabilitation and the doctor made an interesting comment. He said:

“That (Sobriety) is not the ultimate measure of our success here. I believe that they have all experienced something here that has planted a seed that one day will lead to sustained sobriety”.

This should be our goal in evangelism. To many times, Christians think that the measure of success in evangelism are decisions for Christ. In fact, a recent survey of members in my church on why they don't witness is this very reason. Most of them cite a bad experience trying to witness or a lack of decisions.

In John 4:37 Jesus tells us that "..One sows and another reaps." In one of the last commandments that Jesus gave us before he ascended into heaven and sat down at the right of God was to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

Jesus didn't say go out and get decisions. He said to preach the gospel. Decisions for Christ are not up to us but between the unbeliever and Christ. As Jesus commanded, we must play our role but we should stop measuring our success by decisions.

The great evangelist Billy Graham was on an airplane and a stewardess told him that an intoxicated passenger wanted to speak with him because he had led him to Christ many years ago. Billy Graham said that it must be someone he led to Christ and not God. One of the greatest evangelists of our time recognized that he cannot lead anyone to Christ. We should stop trying and simply follow what Jesus wants.