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Open Up

Tonight I will share about something that happened on my way back from the Hradek church yesterday.

After our meetings, David drove me back to the train station where I began waiting for the train.  Unfortunately due to some unforseen issue with the route, all trains that were expected through the station were cancelled for the next several hours.  As I came to the realization that I needed a new route home, I called David, who agreed to drive me down the line to the next open station.  In so doing, he also offered a ride to another passenger at the train station who was in the same boat (same train?) as I was.

After exchanging brief pleasantries, we boarded David’s car and began the short drive toward Třinec.  It turns out that our passenger’s name was Filip and he had been spending the day trying to fish without catching anything.  His English was very good and he was very excited to meet me, his first American visitor.  Almost on queue, he asked me the question that I get so often from the locals: “why did you come here.“  As if anywhere else in the world would have been a better place to come.

I explained that I worked with the church in Český Těšín to create English camps for youth, that I love serving along side the local church, and I have a real love for the people in the area.

At this point David continued the conversation in Czech (much of which I couldn’t quite follow), but it covered more detail about me, my family, English camp, Family Bible Church, and of course, the national passtime: hokey (or hokej).  As I listened, my mind also drifted back to Flip’s fishing day and our mission of fishing for people for the kingdom of God.  When the conversation came to a breaking point, I inserted my question.

“Do you know what the bible has to say about Jesus and fishing?”

“No, he replied”, but sounded a little bit curious.

I shared with him about how Jesus’ first disciples were fishermen and when Jesus called them to become “fishers of people”, they left their nets to follow him.  He seemed interested so I shared some more about what fishing for people meant.  Then we arrived at our destination.

So, did the heavens open at that moment?  No.  We graciously parted ways – Filip to his home, me to my train.  I don’t know how God will use our “chance meeting” in the lives of Filip and David.  But I do know one thing.  God uses opportunities in my life to invite me open up conversations of Gospel truth for my spiritual good.  If I choose to accept the invitation, he builds my faith and it becomes easier to share next time.  If I decline the invitation, I am less likely to share in the future, possibly because of fear.  Each conversation is an adventure to see how God may show up.

So, what invitations has God given you to open up gospel conversations?  I’d love to hear from you.

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