An Invitation to Jesus
My workplace is staffed mostly by co-workers of my peer group: young females still getting established in their lives and careers. Because of the nature of the nursing work we do, many situations arise in which we are dealing with physical and emotional trauma. This requires teamwork, and occasionally offers an opportunity to be an example of the strength of Jesus living in His people.
This past week I was working with a co-worker who I’ll call Cara. Cara and I were splitting a patient assignment, and worked closely together for 2 days, caring for some sick children. During those 2 work days, Cara experienced 2 traumatic events. The first was finding out that her boyfriend, who had dropped out of sight for 3 days, and wasn’t returning phone calls, had actually cheated on her with another girl during the weekend. She received a phone call with this news in the middle of the shift, and promptly burst into tears at the nurses’ station, but of course had to pull herself together to continue caring for patients. The second day of working together, Cara had to transfer a patient to the ICU, as she became progressively sicker during the course of our 12 hour shift, nearly to the point of requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Cara burst into tears again after returning from the rush to get this sick child into the intensive care unit.
Both days I desired to show compassion and provide comfort to Cara, as a supportive co-worker, but also as an example of Jesus to her. However, I came out of those 2 days with a real feeling of frustration at myself, in not being able to truly communicate the gospel invitation to Cara like I wanted to. I found that my best effort at sharing the grace and redemption of Christ, was a watered-down invitation for her to come to some church singles events with me, where she could meet some quality people.
My heart's desire, in the middle of both busy work days, was to be able to sit down with Cara and say, “Hey, what do you know about Jesus? He desires to capture your heart, to have your allegiance, and to heal the hurts in you. Can I tell you more about Him?” Instead, I invited her to experience a part of Jesus, His church body. But I was stuck with the realization that Cara’s true need isn’t for relationship with Christians, or healthy social opportunities---she needs Jesus. I talked to a friend about these interactions later in the week. In the words of my friend, Cara needs Jesus to redeem the painful situations in her life. Why couldn’t I overcome my fear and intimidation and just invite her to Jesus, instead of inviting her to church? My friend suggested that perhaps it is because culturally, an invitation to church is a safer, less loaded-with-baggage way to invite people to Jesus. The name of Jesus and the title Christian has so many negative connotations, perhaps especially to those secular Americans who have grown up in the Southern Bible Belt Area.
In thinking about all these things, I have concluded that despite cultural comfort zones, and fears of negative responses, I desperately want to have the strength of character to invite people directly to Jesus. How do we do that in the midst of our secular workplaces? I am still learning, and seeking insight from others, and from Jesus Himself. John 14:6 says “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus tells us that the only way for people to come receive healing from the Father is through Him. In John chapter 15, Jesus tells us “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” I’m thankful for Jesus’ promise that He has chosen and ordained us to go and bear fruit, before we even had knowledge of Him, and that fruit is produced from a closeness to Jesus Himself. I pray for a boldness to invite people to Jesus, who can meet the needs of their heart.
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