Day 37: Bringing Many
Daniel 12:3
While growing up, my father often shared with me one of his favorite Bible verses, Daniel 12:3:
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
“Julie, win souls to Christ!” he often exclaimed.
My earliest recollection of his evangelistic zeal was when I was 12. One Saturday morning, I experienced his “waffle evangelism.” My father had met a family at a department store and brought them home with him. “Julie, grind the wheat. It’s time for a waffles!” Eventually, the whole family of eight came to know Christ.
As I watched my father more closely, I learned his strategy.
It all started with fervent prayer. Even after he retired, my father woke up early in the morning and began to pray fervent prayers for “divine appointments.” Dad befriended people at supermarkets, department stores, or just on the street. There, he would meet people open to the gospel and lead them to Christ.
When international students and refugees started arriving, things became really wild!
In 1979, a member the king’s Cabinet from a far-off country fled to Omaha. My father befriended the majority religion leader and eventually, his daughter came to live with us. In the evenings, she would often read the Bible with me. Here was a young lady from a 99 percent majority religion country reading God’s Word with me. Recently, one family member came to Christ and was baptized.
Reflection Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I realize that the urgency of prayer is crucial in reaching the lost. In John 15, You ask Your disciples to abide; if we abide in You, we bear fruit. Apart from You, we can do nothing. Father, as I abide in You, I pray for divine appointments, that You rescue people out of darkness into light! I ask You persistently! In Matt 7:7-8, the verbs are continuous actions: “Ask and keep asking, keep and keep seeking, knock and keep knocking.” I petition Your throne of grace on behalf of my friends here and around the world! Amen.
Week 6: Evangelize Now
Week 6 will remind us of the urgency of evangelism.
