Fragrance of Christ

Let me start by saying that being able to share the gospel with someone is always exhilarating.  For me, there’s the usual nervousness beforehand coupled with a desire to not make the appointment (seriously) due to various practical reasons that seem daunting.  But I recognize these signs as being a ‘jar of clay’ that makes it apparent God is the one working, not me.

So today I had an appointment to do a bible study with a friend.  I experienced the usual emotions, even hoping at one point it would get cancelled so that I could have a relaxed day with the kiddos.  But it turned out to be one of the most glorious experiences in sharing the gospel I’ve had to date!

Instead of doing the lesson plan I had intended, my friend asked to go over the same verse we did last week, John 3:16.  I said ‘Awesome!’  So we began going through it, with me attempting to use the One Verse Evangelism approach (I’m still learning so it was choppy).  

The format is looking at one verse, asking 7 questions and letting these questions lead you through the gospel by finding the answers in the verse.  As I was asking ‘Who do you think Jesus is?’ Mattie exuberantly says, “He’s the King!”  I was surprised by this answer (although princesses have been THE subject at our house so we’ve been attempting to use this as a way to point her to Christ).  Later Mattie said “Jesus died for our sins.”  I said ‘Yeah.  We’ve all sinned (or something like it)’ and Mattie followed up with ‘for my sins, Mommy’s sins, our friend’s sins, Daddy’s sins, Ben’s sins.’  

Words cannot express how incredible it was to feel that Mattie and I were getting to share God’s truth together.  I was so surprised with how much she was able to say and the parts of the gospel she comprehends.  How awesome to see God pursuing her heart.

So at the end of the verse, I asked my friend what she thought.  She said I do believe this, but I need more knowledge.  So I tried to encourage her that the only belief needed is in Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection but also that I’d love to keep studying!  I then asked on a scale of 0-100%, where was she at in this?  She said 80%.  Let me add that when we first hung out, I was asking her interest level in religion.  She said not really at all.  Consequently, I marked her on my ‘not interested’ list but kept hanging out with her because I genuinely enjoyed being with her and her English is great!

Later during our time, I asked her what her husband thought of her studying the Bible.  She said he’d like to study the Bible but is very busy.  As a typical Japanese ‘salaryman’, he works from 8a to about 10 or 11p each weekday.  I mentioned the possibility of David meeting her husband at his workplace and studying during his lunch hour; she said that’d be good.  One of the things we’ve been asking God for is to save households in Japan.  Seems like God is moving that way!

One last thing 🙂  The verse in 2 Corinthians 2 says But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” feels very appropriate for this friend.  I have continually done things that are culturally insensitive and yet she still wants to hang out with me!  

As examples, in our time the other day alone, I forgot to asked if she wanted a drink until she’d been in our home for at least a half hour and then I warmed up water but forgot to make the tea for another half hour.  Yay for lukewarm tea!  Then in making lunch, I forgot to turn the rice maker on so rice was ready 15 minutes after we began lunch (stir fry which rice is pretty essential).  And finally, I initially gave her a fork to eat lunch with.  Hi.  We’re in Japan.  After realizing my mistake, I offered chopsticks.

My experience reminded me of this: God wants to save people.  He chooses to use us.  And regardless of how skilled or ‘with it’ we are, people can be brought to the knowledge of Him!  We ARE the fragrance of Christ.  Its a given…for those who are being saved.