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).

Last week we examined Connection One: ASK God. Whereas a stone heart tells condemningly, and a sand heart tells carelessly, a clay heart asks connectedly. Jesus 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).

Connection Two: Ask Others. Jesus summed up the Sermon on the Mount with the main thing: “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). When we do to others what we would have them do to us, we connect with them. Jesus communicated that if we ask others about their needs, then we are better equipped to meet them in order to connect others with God. We will never know how to serve them in the way that they want to be served, unless we humbly ask and listen. Solomon said that anyone who answers before listening is foolish (Proverbs 18:13). A humble clay heart connects with God and others.

Here are four simple questions you can use to connect with others:

“What is your church or spiritual background?”
“Will you please tell me your story?”
“Where is God in all that for you?”
“In terms of the God thing, would you describe yourself as skeptic, seeker, or surrendered?”

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.