Jehovah's Witnesses and the Heart of God

I'm just back 2 days from going to the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia with the young adults group (Surrender) from church.  The worship, the messages, the themes, the people ... they're all still rattling around in my brain as I figure out how to process it and what to do with it all.  In one of the messages, the speaker, Francis Chan, related a conversation he had with some Jehovah's Witnesses.  After sharing their faith, he shared, not his belief, but what God was doing in His life in response to prayer.  Curious!  He didn't argue theology, history or anything of the sort.  He just declared what God was doing in his life RIGHT NOW! 

So this morning as I sat to read, believe it or not, I had a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses come to my house.  They were both young adults from this area, a guy named Brandon and a girl named Hannah.  I was able to ask them about their story and talk about mine.  When I asked the guy how he got plugged in with the witnesses, he mentioned that at a desperate time in his life, the witnesses "took me in!"  That line has stuck in my spirit all day.

I started thinking about how we are drawn to people that we feel care about us, whoever and wherever they may be.  And rather than debate theology with them and argue about their beliefs, I felt God nudge me to love on them where they are now.  Not to try to change them, but let the love of God do that.  This is however what people are looking for, and what I believe the Heart of God is calling us too.  Is it messy ... yes!  Is it tough ... yes!  Is it the Heart of God ... yes!  I wonder how often we miss out on opportunities to plant seeds in people's lives because we are looking for an immediate harvest.  The old adage is people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care right.

Remembering Francis' message, I found myself explaining how God had changed my life in transformed me.  No arguements, no theological debate ... just God's transforming love.  In in the midst of it all, I saw the power of magnifying God and glorifying His name, not my wisdom or my theology.  The bible says when Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself.  How perfect!

So I'm determined this year to pray ... to pray hard and partner with God on what He wants to do ... transform people.  And whether it's in church, in line at the grocery store, or at my front doorstep, the mission is the same.  Magnify Jesus and make His name known.  Here we go.