But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

(1 Peter 3:15)

Recently, on a spur of the moment weekend trip to the shore, I forgot to pack my sneakers, my earplugs, and my wallet! It’s easy to leave a few essentials behind, but always remember to pack Jesus.  

Whether your trip is near or far, there’s bound to be some down-time waiting in line, sitting on planes, trains and automobiles, getting gas, or at your destination. Often, we’re thrust uncomfortably close to perfect strangers. If you’re a recovering introvert like me, it can range from awkward to daunting. But there’s another option: consider it an opportunity to practice sharing something far more important than talk of the weather or elections: share Jesus!

My hubby was boarding a long flight to Guam years ago. He was not much in a mood to be social, and someone had told him that the best way to silence a chatty neighbor was to ask if they had met Jesus. When the ladies next to him started some small talk, he tried out the advice. To his surprise and ultimate joy, they turned out to be two nuns on the beginning of a missionary journey. They ended up chatting happily about Jesus for the entire flight.

The thing is, we can never know where our sharing will take us when we dare to step out in faith. You might get rebuffed or rebuked. But…you might find incredible encouragement in your own journey, or find out about a need that you can actually meet, or hear a tear-soaked story from someone who prayed for someone to talk to, or get to lead a total stranger to Jesus. I’ve heard first-hand accounts of all these.

On our cruise to Alaska, we were seated at a table with couples from Georgia and Texas. It turned out that all of us wrote devotionals (and even a book) for our churches. In Europe, several on our small tour bus were believers and made a special effort to visit the cathedrals and churches where we stopped. We even got a blessing from a German priest. We also prayed together for those lost on MH-13 which had flown out of the very airport that we flew into only days earlier.

So, give it a try! God may have arranged that conversation just for you. You could be the answer to a prayer. No matter how it turns out, you’ll be participating in God’s great plan for us to go and make disciples!

PRAYER: Lord, help me to always pack Jesus wherever I go. I want to join the Psalmist in singing: “In the assembly of all your people, Lord, I told the good news that you save us. You know that I will never stop telling it. I have not kept the news of salvation to myself; I have always spoken of your faithfulness and help. In the assembly of all your people I have not been silent about your loyalty and constant love.” (Psalm 40:9-10 GNT) I am Your witness. AMEN!

Safe travels,

Jen