My Job, GOD's Job, Their Job.

This past spring I attended the Immersion 1 training at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, ID. (I highly recommend both of Jim Putman's books). As they were talking about the way they view shepherding they explained that they see three parts to shepherding. First, there is my job as the shepherd to point the person I'm shepherding at the moment to Jesus. Second, there is GOD's job to challenge/transform/convict/encourage/
regenerate/etc them.  And, third, there is their job to respond. I find that often times in the past I have attempted to do, not only my job, but GOD's job, and their job too.


This lesson has proved invaluable to me as I have been spending time with people since then, walking through scenario after scenario with them.  In the past I put all the pressure on myself to make others make good decisions in their lives, or for me to believe in Jesus for them.


Never has this principle proved itself more true than when sharing Christ with someone. Emmy and I prayed with a friend to receive Christ this past spring, and I thought to myself as we were  wrapping up the conversation, "she needs more time." So I told her when she has made her decision to become a Christian to let Emmy and I know and we would love to pray with her. She just looked at me and said, "Well, I'm ready now!"  My job: point her to Christ; GOD's job: call her to himself; Her job: respond.
Who's job have you been attempting to do?