Don't be a salesman. Be a witness.

You know how sometimes when we witness to our friends, colleagues or even family, they seem really 'closed to the Gospel'. It's like they just can't seem to understand what we are talking about or something. In such situations what do we do?

At times I've found myself trying to convince people that Jesus is the only way. I also know of people who, in their zeal to evangelise, bombard people with the Gospel so much so that heated debates and nasty arguments ensue. Well, that's just not how it's supposed to be.

We don't have to try to sell Jesus to our friends, shove him down our colleagues' throats or argue the cause with anyone.

In John 1:43-45, Jesus found Philip and said, "Follow me." Then Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." But Nathanael wasn't one to believe too soon. He said, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"

Doesn't Nathanael's cynicism remind you of some of the people you've witnessed to? They just won't believe immediately.

Well, interestingly enough, Philip didn't try and sell Jesus to Nathanael. He simply said, "Come and see."

May be we can take a cue from Philip. The next time we evangelise, we should remember to steer clear from heated debates and arguments and remember that our job is to tell people the truth and invite them to experience it. After all, it's the Holy Spirit who has to do the work of changing their hearts.

The Bible also says, that God chose us, we did not choose Him. John 15:16a - "You did not choose me, but I chose you."

Look at vs 47 to 50. Jesus already knew who Nathanael was. He had seen him under the fig tree even before Philip called him. Nathanael was already chosen by Jesus.

Similarly, God's eye is already on our friends, colleagues or whoever else we are witnessing to. So we are not working on our own to bring people into the kingdom. God is working with us!