So………..how many people have you led to Christ?
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Church report cards come out pretty soon and I think I’m in trouble.
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Right now I’m doing well in – Show up every Sunday 101, Fellowship before and/or after service 202, Monetary Giving I & Volunteering II. I’m passing – Invite Somebody to Church 201 & Volunteer for special events 201 and I’m expecting some extra credit for having the church decal on my car, tweeting things my pastor says, and singing along in worship (not just mouthing, actually singing). Even with all that, I’m not sure it’s going to help because I’m failing the most important course – Leading others to Christ 101. And if I don’t pass that, then I won’t earn the coveted jacket that all Christian men like to wear #ItHasElbowPatches.
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Obviously there are no such things as church report cards, although before I became a Christian, I used to wonder why religious nuts were always trying so hard to convert me. It seriously felt like they had a quota they were trying to reach or something. If not for a grade then at the very least, I figured there must be a nice walnut plaque involved.
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So………..how many people have you led to Christ?
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Me?
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Zero……that I know of.
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It’s true that I’ve never had one of those ‘after school special’ TV moments, where somebody comes to me hurting or with a bagful of junk so we talk for hours and I tell them about God, my faith etc….and it ends with me leading them in a prayer that changes their lives forever.
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And that’s okay.
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I think some Christians would disagree with that statement of it being okay that in my 4 years of being a Christian, I’ve never led somebody through a salvation prayer, but I disagree.
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You know who lovingly led me to Christ?
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Christ did.
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And you know how He chose to do it?
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Through a little bit of this gal, some of this guy, a dash of that guy, a tablespoon of that person etc….
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No one person took my hand and led me to the altar, but many people, in their own different ways, played a part in pointing me there. I’m convinced God used many so no one person could boast, because bringing me to Christ was the equivalent to 12 eagles on the golf course. Now I’ve never gotten a single eagle in my life but if I ever do, you know who will know about it? EVERYBODY I know and ever will know, meet, pass by etc…. 
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Do all the people who are responsible for me being where I am now even know they played a part?
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Not all of them do. Several of them are authors that I’ve never met. At least one, Norman Vincent Peale, passed on 18 years ago. Others, I never really came right out and told. And what about those responsible for leading them? They played a small part in leading me, right? And what about those responsible for leading the people who led the people who helped lead me?
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I think as Christians we need to be super cognizant of that. We have opportunities everyday to be way finders for the lost and a light to help them see, but that might not necessarily mean okay, it’s time to break out the “Sinner’s Prayer.” It may just mean, being there for them, loving them, listening to them, praying with/for them, showing them (actions are strong) etc….
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And just because we’ve never led somebody directly to Christ doesn’t mean that we haven’t played or aren’t currently playing our part in leading others there. We might be a small piece in a big puzzle, but every piece is important right? That’s why you don’t buy puzzles at yard sales. The truth is, you may be helping more than you’ll ever know, so keep on keeping on.
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God’s conducting this orchestra. You just keep doing you’re part and He’ll handle the rest.
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And as kind of a side note, if somebody played a small part in you being where you are today, reach out to them and let them know.
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Especially if it’s me, because I so want this jacket 
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