When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” – Luke 5:4-5
To win people to the Lord, you’ll have to know their interests. Humans are naturally self-centred. Peter and his brothers were fishermen, the Lord therefore spoke to them about fishing. They ran a business that wasn’t doing so well, so the Lord intervened with a Miracle and they caught a net-breaking and boat-sinking catch of fish. Luke 5:10-11 says, ‘Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.’ When all was said and done, the Lord called them to follow Him because He wanted to make them fishers of men.
The Lord was a Master Soul Winner. He used various Strategies, one of them was to be interested in what people are interested in. To fishermen, He spoke about fishing. To the woman at the well, He spoke about water. 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 says, ‘And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.’ The Apostle Paul used the Lord Jesus Christ’s Strategy. He became all things to all them that he might by all means save some.
The Gospel Message isn’t dry and boring. It’s a dynamic Message that can be made relevant to different audiences. Just because you’re young, it doesn’t mean you must only talk to the youth. Be a dynamic young person who’s interested in more than just himself or herself. Be interested in other faiths, cultures, age groups…be interested in all walks of life. Break the ice by talking about what interests them. Step into their world and establish some common ground first, then introduce the Message of the Kingdom. You can’t just belt out, ‘Repent or you’ll go to hell!’ The Lord didn’t do it like that. The Apostles didn’t do it like that. God has blessed you with Wisdom in Christ, so use that Wisdom and be relatable. Be interested in what people are interested in and they’ll be interested in what you have to say. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
I use the same Soul winning Strategy as the Lord Jesus Christ. I become all things to all them that by all means I might save some. I’m interested in what others are interested in so that they may be interested in what I have to say. Glory to God!
BLADE/ Week 4 Day 6 / YOUTH SATURDAY