The Salesman

My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

1 Corinthians 2:4

A young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale. As he talked with his sales manager, he lamented, “I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” The manager replied, “Son, take my advice: your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty.” So it is with evangelism. Our lives should be so filled with Christ that they create a thirst within others for the gospel. Witnessing is really interaction. It’s not about just dropping a whole presentation on somebody. The more we practice sensitivity and sincerity in telling others about Jesus, the more responsive people tend to be.

Sometimes we ought to think of ourselves as sales representatives, ambassadors of Jesus. Spend time in prayer today, asking God to give you the courage to witness. Trust that He will give you the right words. And never forget that you can lead people to Christ, but it’s through Christ alone that they will come to know Him.

The kingdom of God is not going to advance by our churches becoming filled with men, but by men in our churches becoming filled with God.

HOWARD SPRING