Don’t Talk to Strangers

I am sure most of us as children grew up hearing and learning not to talk to strangers. Be aware of your surroundings. Judging the way someone walks, talks, or even looks at you. Not making eye contact. Rushing to your car. Making no conversations. And that might not ring true for everyone, but I’m sure it does for most.

I know for me, that wasn’t the case. My mom talked to just about everybody. Granted, DeLand was a small town so we knew pretty much everybody, but my mom had some kind of inviting spirit that if she asked one question, people would tell her their whole life stories. I remember being so impatient and wanting to leave during those times. On the outside people complimented how I waited patiently, but on the inside I was dying because I just wanted to be home. I didn’t care about other people’s stories, I just wanted to get home so I could watch TV! Selfish much?

But praise God for doing a work in my heart. I don’t remember each person my mom talked to, but I do remember the care she had. The time she took to listen, and not listen to respond but actually listen. The heartfelt compassion she had towards someone as they lead in vulnerability in sharing personal things with my mom. I remember the patience to listen no matter how long, and the sacrifice to move her schedule back to make time to listen to someone while in a Publix parking lot. I thankfully carried that with me and I feel nothing but honor to hear someone share their story and for them to feel safe and count me as trustworthy to open up.

Now I grew up watching Criminal Minds and Law and Order SVU. So I would say I definitely was aware of my surroundings, who I was with, areas of town, etc. This didn’t scare me into not talking to people, I just thought people always had an ulterior motive; aside from the fact that I was a quiet person and not the one who would confront or speak up. 

Well fast forward some years and boy has that changed! Praise God! 

One giant take away from last year on the World Race that I learned from my mentor was “talk to strangers.” And she always said it in that mom voice that says, “don’t talk to strangers.” Our squad always laughed, but it was true. How are we expected to share the Gospel with others if we aren’t talking to people? 

I have seen too many comfortable Christians content in their inner circle, people who think they don’t need community, and others too scared of offending someone to speak the truth. Well the time is now to get over all of that and rise up. Get out of your bubble and talk to a stranger. Community is so needed because you need fellow believers to grow and gain knowledge from. And why live in fear? Speak the truth in boldness. 

When we choose to follow and talk to Jesus, that means we talk to strangers. We don’t know who His children are and that’s why we need to speak up and proclaim Jesus to all the Nations.

Jesus literally hand picked all 12 disciples and told them to drop everything and follow Him. They didn’t know Jesus, but they were willing. If you’re a believer, He’s already asked you to drop everything and follow Him. Are we living that out in full obedience to the one who saved us by grace? Acts 1:8, we are to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Well how can we if we aren’t talking to people about Jesus? 

Get out of the house. Talk to a stranger. Tell them about Jesus. Pray with them. Encourage them in the truth. 

Cultivate community. Grow and push each other. Be known by others and get to know others. Create a safe place. Deepen your knowledge in Jesus and walk in His ways.

Don’t live in fear. Release all anxieties to the Lord. Be bold. Be brave. God is with you. Speak the Gospel truth.

Amen.