Studies show that 86% of American Christians came to Christ before age 14, 10% Between ages 15-30, and only 4% after age 30 (source).
I knew these statistics when I felt the Lord prompting me to share Christ with my 88-year-old aunt.
Even though she'd gone to church her whole life, nothing about her reflected Christ. She was a difficult person, not afraid to cut you to the quick if she didn't like something you said.
I could only imagine what she would do if I suggested she'd never accepted Christ.
But I felt God was prompting me to do it, so I shared the basic truths of salvation with her and asked if she wanted to pray to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior. I was was genuinely surprised when she admitted she'd never asked Christ to be her Lord and asked me to pray with her.
And I believe her conversion was genuine because it changed her. Knowing Jesus made her kinder for her few remaining years of life.
Many years after this happened, I shared it with my 11-year-old granddaughter and she said I needed to share it with others so Christians would be braver about sharing the Gospel.
She's was right. And I've tried to honor her request. That's one reason I've written this devotion. May it encourage you to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Don't let a person's age or personality stop you from sharing Christ with them. You might just beat the odds!
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For additional insights see False Views about "Real Evangelism" and Jesus Asked Questions.
My husband is currently doing the Alpha course for the first time at the age of 50. And something is stirring in him. He says he needs to find balance in his life. I have been praying for him for 20 years - praise God, he hears us and answers in his time according to his will.
ReplyDeleteFor over 30 years, I prayed for my father's salvation. Every time I would share the Lord with him he would belittle my message. 10 days before he died, my teenage son shared with him the message of salvation in a brand new way. He described standing on a railroad track & waiting for the train to hit him. He knew he deserved this and saw no way out. He said that at that moment Jesus stood in his place and said that he would take this final punishment on his behalf because He loved him. For some reason my father could understand this sacrifice. We spoke of what Jesus did for us on the cross & he prayed and asked for forgiveness & for salvation. Against all odds my father opened his heart to Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, Sonya. God gave your son great wisdom, and I'm sure that your faith, prayers, and your past explanations to your father also helped him understand.
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