Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

This verse expresses the two sides of evangelism. First, there is the invitation, expressed by the Holy Spirit, by the Church, and by all who have already responded to the invitation. Then there is the response: thirst, that is, recognizing need, and volition, the choice to receive. Both sides are necessary for someone to be saved, born again into God’s family. All who have heard and accepted the invitation are responsible to express it to others, but we cannot control whether they will accept it or not. That is the challenge, and so often the heartbreak, of evangelism. Those who have tasted the Lord’s goodness want to share Him with all, but it seems many don’t feel thirsty because they’ve been drinking the sewage of the world, or else they don’t have the will to change, and so don’t accept what is offered. Another thing that is sometimes a stumbling block is that the water of life is without cost to us. We like to think we have earned or paid for what we get! The problem is, we could never earn or pay for salvation; it is just too valuable. We have to let go of pride and receive salvation by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

As a pastor in Japan, sometimes I feel like I say, “Come!” until I’m blue in the face, and still get no takers. If I were to focus on that, I would give up! However, there continue to be those who do recognize their need and accept the invitation, and I must never give up for their sake. As a pastor, one of my biggest challenges is helping the believers understand that they too are to be repeating the invitation. They are by definition more effective witnesses to their friends and family than I am, because they have far more connection than I ever could. I need to help them believe and understand that the Holy Spirit can and will speak through them, if they will give Him permission. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, (John 16:8) and so generates the thirst mentioned here. That’s not our job, but He will use us in the process if we will allow Him to do so. I desire to give the believers a hunger for and anticipation of being used in that way, so that no one around us would go to death without having the opportunity of life.

Father, You’ve placed me in a difficult field to raise a harvest for You. Help me be faithful, allowing You to get the rocks and other junk out of the field, plowing, planting and watering as You direct, and putting in the sickle at Your right time, to bring in a harvest that is all that You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!