C13 Traffic Lights
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C13 Traffic Lights
In our conversations with people who don’t know Jesus, yet, it is very important that we keep an eye on their reactions. If we have shown genuine interest, it’s not often that we are cut off when we immediately follow up with a short, one-sentence prayer for their need. (With a look to the ceiling and without „amen“ at the end…!) Clear breaking point often is response to the Bridge over the gap, where we express a clear challenge: All we have to do is cross that bridge. Tell Him, for example, „Jesus, please COME into my life, FORGIVE me all the bad things, and GUIDE me.“ Tell Him this right now…
Especially here, we see different responses and it feels like TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
1) When our George „says a little prayer“ after explaining the Bridge Over the Gap and it looks real, we rejoice greatly and consider it a GREEN traffic light! So we present another tool called 4F and Coin and look for a way to follow up on Enter topics. We invite him to an informal Bible reading (Discovery) and encourage him to bring his friends…
2) YELLOW light (or orange) means he doesn’t feel ready to surrender to Jesus yet. For example, he says he needs to think about it, wants more information, asks questions, listens, etc.
I continue to talk with him, share my own one-minute story or some experience from my life with Jesus, invite him to Discovery, and most importantly arrange the next meeting with him as soon as possible (ideally within 48 hours).
3) A RED LIGHT is someone who rejects the Good News challenge for the time being. I invite him to Discovery anyway! And I continue a friendly conversation – perhaps about „ordinary things“ that may be a blessing to him, anyway.
A red light in a long-term relationship doesn’t have to mean the end of spiritual topics at all! Some people will reach out to you on their own when they get further hints or when they feel low in their lives. Even reluctant people have sometimes changed their minds after their first experience with God’s Word and with living Jesus, whom they came to know through a small community of His joyful followers! The typical reaction can then be: „Well, that’s not really how I pictured Jesus for me…“
4) Occasionally we come across someone who says they have crossed that bridge, already, that they have accepted Jesus, or more often they say they are a „Christian“. That’s what we refer to as a BLUE light at that moment. How do we respond in such a case?
Um, that’s great! And do you think God has forgiven you every bad thing you’ve ever done?
a) If I see a doubt, I show him the Bridge over the gap again and challenge him to tell Jesus all his bad things that he is not sure have been forgiven.
If possible I read or quote 1 John 1:7-9 „…The sacrifice of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just – he forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.“
b) If he expresses joyful assurance that he is forgiven „because of Jesus“, I rejoice with him and offer to teach him this sharing of Jesus, show him on the spot, and invite him along so he can watch and participate. I’ll give him a link to Bridges to People, exchange contact information and invite him to a training session or for the next time we’re going out.
This traffic light helps us choose the appropriate next action based on the response to the Good News and the challenge. At the yellow light we think about how to help him to know the Lord Jesus and to make the decision. When I see a green light, I don’t hesitate to take the next steps (4F, Coin, Enter). Where there is a red light, perhaps I don’t invest further at the moment, but I wait to see what the Lord will do with it. Even in the case of a blue light, we know how to serve further.
Just as traffic lights change colors, our people may not stay the same in the long run. Even a red light can be touched by Jesus and have its heart changed. So it was with Saul of Tarsus and many others…
Lord Jesus, thank You for responding to people in a very open way, recognizing the situation and having next steps for everyone, whatever the response.
