Leading Men and Women into a Closer Relationship with Christ

Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

My personal mission in ministry is “To lead men and women into a closer relationship with Christ through Evangelism, Education, and Example!” One of the biggest mistakes many people of God make is thinking that they don’t have a whole lot of influence over anyone and therefore there aren’t too many people they can lead closer to Christ.

This is not the case at all. If you’re a parent, you have influence over your children. Spouses have influence over their spouse. Co-workers have influence over their co-workers. Neighbors with other neighbors and Christians with their brothers and sisters in Christ to include their Pastor and Pastor’s wife. We all have more influence than we think!

The key is not to always think we have to lead someone to Christ, though we certainly should be striving for this as well, but we can also lead someone closer to Christ. The question is not “Do I have influence?” but rather, “How will I use the influence I do have?” Let us embrace our influence, on whatever level it is, and use that influence to lead men and women into a closer relationship with Christ. The following are a few simple ways to do just that!

Begin Moving Closer to Christ Yourself

You can only lead someone closer to Christ if you’re going there yourself. The writer of the book of Hebrews points this out in Hebrews_7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. James not only tells us what to do to be blessed by God, he also tells us how to do it! James_4:8  Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh to you… He then tells us, in the rest of the verse, how to draw near to God. He tells the sinner to cleanse their hands and the double-minded to purify their hearts. These two actions alone will move you significantly closer to God!

Be serious about your own sanctification and spiritual growth! The first person you should always lead closer to Christ is yourself. This doesn’t mean that you have to hit a certain pinnacle of perfection before leading others, just purposely begin the journey yourself and bring someone along starting with your family at home. If you wouldn’t follow yourself closer to Christ, why would anyone else?

Let Your Walk be Bigger than Your Talk

Don’t seek attention for everything you do for Christ. There’s a level of maturity in Christ to where you do things for Him, even if very few or no one sees it. There’s a higher level of maturity in Christ where you look for things to do for Him even if very few or no one sees it. There’s an even higher level of maturity in Christ where you look for things to do for Him and you make sure that not even one person sees it because you know God does!

Let everything you do be for His glory, even if no one else knows about it. Paul tells us in two places: Romans_15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. and 1st Corinthians_10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. God wants to take each of us to a whole new level, and it starts with everything being done to the glory of God!

Connect and Encourage

For those who are mature in Christ, it is our place to CONNECT, not always correct. (Let the Pastor do that so you can keep all your friends). What does this look like? Paul gives us a good illustration in Romans 15:1-3  We then that are strong (spiritually strong – established Christians) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak (spiritually weak – new Christians), and not to please ourselves.  (2)  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.  (3)  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

In other words, in order to lead someone into a closer relationship with Christ, we as the more mature Christians have to take up most of the work load, even the part that they should be taking for themselves, but are not yet ready to do so. We bear it for them until they can bear it themselves in the Lord.

Befriend and encourage. Paul gives us yet another good example in Romans 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. In other words, value people and what THEY value and place it over what you value so that you may lead them into a closer relationship with Christ!

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Rather than wishing you had more influence, will you embrace your influence, on whatever level it currently is, and use that influence to lead men and women into a closer relationship with Christ? That is something we all can do right where we are!