Have you ever struggled with how you should go to others with the gospel of full surrender to Christ? When a person is caught in his sin, desiring life apart from God, we tend to go to him in one of two extremes: we are either condemning or careless. These are rooted in the two expressions of a proud heart: (1) stone (condemning) or (2) sand (careless).

Jesus conveyed that we should not go to the world either condemningly or carelessly; rather, we should go connectedly with the Spirit of God in total humility with a heart of clay (Matthew 7:1-12). Consequently, every encounter with another person is a three-way call. When we are connected with God and connected with others, then they are connected with God. Whereas pride brings static to the line; humility offers a clear connection.

Go connectedly with a soft heart of clay (Matthew 7:7-12).

Connection One: ASK God. Jesus revealed that we should go to others with a heart of humility that is first connected to God. Whereas a stone heart tells condemningly, and a sand heart tells carelessly, a clay heart asks connectedly. Jesus commanded His disciples to ASK — Ask, Seek, and Knock. He described a progressive intensity of humility in prayer, one’s heart connected with God’s. He promised that if we ask humbly, we will receive; if we seek (making our muscles move with our prayers) we will find; and if we knock persistently, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-11).

You might ask, “Receive what? Find what? Open what door?” In Luke’s parallel passage, we discover that the answer is not in what, but who. “Your father in heaven (will) give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13, [parantheses added]). The Holy Spirit removes the planks from our own eyes, giving us wisdom to discern, but not condemn. He keeps us from being careless with the pearls of the gospel message, giving us wisdom to answer outsiders (Colossians 4:5-6). He offers us a clay heart that connects, one that is malleable in the hands of the Potter. A clay heart is a picture of the humble heart of Christ (Matthew 11:29). We must ask the Holy Spirit into our lives and then ask Him for wisdom regarding each encounter.

Have you asked the Holy Spirit into you life? If not, fully surrender your heart to Him as Savior and Lord, today. Then ask Him for wisdom for each encounter with another person.

Episode 199: Go Connectedly from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.