As I was winding up the La Puerta language class on Friday evening, I notice a man standing in that hall, looking through the window. As the students filed out, shaking hands, saying thank you or commenting on the brief devotional, the man, who I’ll call Francisco, entered the class room. He waited patiently until my friend and fellow teacher Laura, Francisco and I were the only ones in the room. “Can you teach people how to read?” It was a unique conversation starter.
My internal reaction to this was all negative. I don’t have time for this. I don’t have many evenings left. How can I possibly add another thing to my plate? This is an English class, not a reading class. But somehow I got control of my thoughts and decided to listen to voice of the Spirit rather than my internal dialog.
Ross to Jesus: “Jesus, what’s your take on this?”
Jesus to Ross: “He came to you.”
Ross to man: “Hi, I’m Ross. What exactly are you looking for? Do you want me to teach you to read in English or Spanish?”
Man to Ross: “I’m Francisco. I want to know if you can teach me to read in Spanish.”
The negative thoughts returned. Who am I to teach a native Spanish speaker how to read Spanish? I don’t have time for this. You can’t work all day and then take up every evening. Yada yada yada.
Ross to Jesus: “Jesus?????”
Jesus to Ross: “Check to see if he’s open to spiritual things.”
Ross to Francisco: “I’d be open to teaching you to read under two conditions. First, I’d like to do it at your house, not in a classroom (I’m was trying to follow Jesus’ Lk. 10 pattern of taking the gospel to his oikos, his household). Second, I’ll teach you to read using the Bible. Are you open to that?”
Francisco to Ross (eyes brightening): “You’d do that? You’d teach me at my apartment? Are you an evangelical?”
Ross to Francisco: “I’m a Christian. I’d like to teach you not only how to read but the truth about God. Are you open to that?”
Francisco to Ross: “Yes, I’d love to have you come to my apartment to teach me with the Bible. My wife is an evangelical. I’m an oyente.” An oyente is the functional equivalent of a seeker.
Jesus to Ross: “He’s the man of peace.”
Fast Forward Six Weeks. I’m teaching Francisco in the opening verses of the book of Mark. We come across the word “evangelio” which is Spanish for “gospel” in Mark 1:1.
Ross to Francisco: Do you know what this word gospel means?
Francisco to Ross: Yes, you are an “evangelio” (gospel).
Ross to Francisco: No, you are thinking of “evangelico” (an evangelical). That word refers to a person, this word “evangelio” means “good news.” We proceeded to dialog about how the good news could be good news for Francisco.
Ross to Francisco: “The good news is about having Jesus in your life, living in you and being your Lord. Do you want that?”
Francisco to Ross and Jesus (eyes brightening): “Yes I want that very much.”
Ross to Francisco: “Welcome to the kingdom.”
Ross to Jesus: “Thank you Lord!”
Here’s the point I want to make with this true and current story.[1] We follow Jesus, the Lord of the Harvest, into the harvest. That process of listening to his Spirit never ends. He guides, we obey. Read another article about this here. As Jesus and I continue to partner together under his lordship, there is still lots to be done. How will Jesus bring the Gospel to Francisco’s sphere of influence? What are the next steps in helping Francisco become a disciple? Will Francisco’s wife be a help or a hindrance? There is only one way to find out.
Ross to Jesus: “Jesus????”
- Where do you think all of those negative thoughts came from?
- How do we make sure we are listening to Jesus and not our emotions?
- It would be very reasonable to conclude that I really couldn’t help Francisco learn to read. What would have happened if I had only made a reasonable decision?
- At what point should we tell Jesus, “I’ve got it from here?”
[1] Francisco came to Christ last Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.
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