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).

In previous weeks we have 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 communicated that if we ask others about their needs, then we are better equipped to meet them in order to connect others with God. A humble clay heart connects with God and others.

This week we are examining Connection Three: Ask God Into Their Lives. When we ask God and ask others, the Holy Spirit connects others with God. The Law and the Prophets were designed to connect others with God. Jesus described this humility toward God and others as the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). The apostle Peter clarified the importance of others asking God into their lives: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

On a hot Middle Eastern day, Jesus provided the ultimate picture of a three-way call when He connected with the heart of the Father and with the woman at the well, who then connected with God. He was not condemning. He was not careless. He was connected, and He asked. Consequently, she asked the Restorer into her life (1 John 4:1-54).

Think of a person with whom you have been condemning or careless. ASK the Holy Spirit to take the plank out of your own eye so that you can clearly see the speck in that person’s eye. Ask God to give you the wisdom to answer that person’s questions and discern his level of hard-heartedness. Ask that person how you can serve him. Ask the appropriate questions to engage his heart.

Here’s a life-changing question to ask someone who might be ready to surrender to Christ: “Would you like to draw a line in the sand, put a stake in the ground, and fully surrender your heart and life to Christ as Savior and Lord?” You can follow an affirmative answer with a request to pray this prayer to God: “I can’t. You can. I can’t free myself from the penalty of my sin. In Christ, You can. I can’t free myself from the power of my sin. In Christ, You can. I fully surrender my heart and life to You as Savior to free me from the penalty and Lord to free me from the power of my sin. Please forgive and restore me.”

Trade your condemning heart of stone or the careless heart of sand for a soft heart of clay that is connected with God and others. ASK the Holy Spirit to take the plank out of your own eye so that you can clearly see the speck in others’ eyes. Ask Him for wisdom to answer outsiders. Ask others how you can serve them. Listen. In everything, act with Christ’s heart of humility, and His Spirit will connect them with God. Every encounter is a three-way call. Whereas pride causes static on the line, humility offers a clear connection.

Episode 199: Go Connectedly from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.