No Formula Needed 别依赖公式

[Dexu Xia]

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

When Jen was young, her well-intentioned Sunday school teacher instructed the class in evangelism training, which included memorizing a series of verses and a formula for sharing the gospel. She and a friend nervously tried this out on another friend, fearful they’d forget an important verse or step. Jen doesn’t “remember if the evening ended in conversion [but guesses] it did not.” The approach seemed to be more about the formula than the person.

Now, years later, Jen and her husband are modeling for their own children a love for God and sharing their faith in a more inviting way. They understand the importance of teaching their children about God, the Bible, and a personal relationship with Jesus, but they’re doing so through a living, daily example of a love for God and the Scriptures. They’re demonstrating what it means to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and to reach out to others through kindness and hospitable words. Jen says, “We cannot impart words of life to others if we don’t possess them ourselves.” As she and her husband show kindness in their own lifestyle, they’re preparing their children “to invite others into their faith.”

We don’t need a formula to lead others to Jesus—what matters most is that a love for God compels and shines through us. As we live in and share His love, God draws others to know Him too.

How have you shared the good news with another? What was the result? What are some other ways you could share about Jesus?

Dear God, I want others to experience the loving relationship I have with You. Help me in my walk and talk to draw others to You.  

 你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。—马太福音5章16节

在珍芳年纪还小的时候，有位主日学老师训练大家如何传福音，其中包含背诵一系列的经文和一套公式。珍芳和她朋友试着将所学的运用在另一位朋友身上，她们非常紧张，深怕忘记哪个重要的经文或步骤。珍芳说：“我不记得那个朋友最后是否有决志，不过我想应该没有。”即使是好的方法，若在使用时看重公式过于人，也可能达不到预期的效果。

多年后的今天，珍芳和丈夫为自己的孩子们树立爱上帝的榜样，并用更具吸引力的方式来分享他们的信仰。他们明白教导孩子们认识上帝、圣经，以及与耶稣建立个人关系的重要性，但他们以身教的方式，在每天生活中体现如何爱上帝和祂的话语。他们以行动表明何谓成为“世上的光”（马太福音5章14节），也以友善亲切的言语帮助他人。珍芳说：“如果我们活出上帝的话语，便能以自己的生命影响他人。”当他们夫妻俩在生活中总是以恩慈待人时，珍芳说这就是预备孩子们邀请人来认识他们的信仰。

我们不需依赖任何公式来带领人认识耶稣，最重要的是我们对上帝的爱激励我们为祂发光。当我们活在上帝的爱中且分享这份爱时，上帝也会吸引人来认识祂。

你曾如何向人分享福音？结果如何？
你还可以用什么方式与人分享耶稣的事呢？亲爱的上帝，我希望别人也能拥有

像我与祢的亲密关系。求祢帮助我，
让我的言行举止能吸引人来认识祢。