Written by Eunice Tan
A recent experience reminded me of how God can use small acts of Christian love to open doors for deeper conversations about Christianity.
I reached out to my ex-boss to arrange a time to meet and suggested a date. However, she was unavailable because her father was scheduled for surgery the following week. We did not text each other after that, but I kept that date in mind. On the night before his surgery, I sent her a short message: “I’ll be keeping your dad in my prayers for his surgery tomorrow.”
When we eventually met, she told me how deeply touched she felt that I remembered her father’s surgery and thanked me for my prayers as the surgery went smoothly. What surprised me was that she was the one who initiated a conversation about Christianity because of that simple gesture of care. She began asking about my faith, beliefs and what I do in church. On this occasion, I did not initiate the conversation about God, but God used kindness to open the way.
This incident reminded me of Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Sometimes the most powerful testimony does not begin with preaching, but with a gentle act of showing genuine Christian love and sincerity. As some people say, you might be the only “walking Bible” that someone ever reads.
Jesus gave His disciples a clear command in Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” While the calling is clear, the practice is often challenging.
I sometimes personally struggle with starting conversations about God and Christianity in fear of sounding forceful or making others uncomfortable. It is not always easy to know when or how to start a conversation about God, especially with colleagues, friends, or family members. Yet, Scripture reminds us that sharing the gospel is not only about speaking, it is also about living a life that God Commands us to live.
Colossians 4:6 teaches, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Titus 2:7-8 reads “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
Just as people often say that actions speak louder than words, our Christian conduct speaks loudly too. When we walk in love, people notice something different that may pave the way for deeper conversations about God. As John 13:35 reminds us, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Living daily in a way that reflects Christ’s example is instrumental in preaching the gospel. A simple message, a sincere prayer, or remembering someone’s need may be the very thing God uses to draw another person closer to Him. As John 15:8 says, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” By walking in love and bearing fruit through our actions, we point others to Christ and bring glory to God.