(c) 2010, Amy S. Lewis

Living in Minnesota and working in a white collar career, people are often surprised that I own a horse. Occasionally, people tell me how afraid they are of horses – they’re big, unpredictable and strong, they say. They fear them because they may kick or bite or be uncontrollable. Over the years, I’ve come to understand these people are afraid of horses because they’re not familiar with them. They’ve not had any experience with a horse. And they certainly have never learned how to ride and rein a horse. They haven’t given horses a chance.

Or, I get another story…they rode once and had a bad experience. Judging all horses to be the same as the one who “done them wrong,” they never go near a horse again.

How many people around us give God the same treatment or have negative perceptions of Christians? Could it be that those who are not yet believers simply don’t know God? That they haven’t given Him a chance? That they hold false perceptions of what it means to be a Christian? Or maybe, they’ve had a bad experience at a church or with a Christian they perceive to be a hypocrite and haven’t gone back? Just like someone introduced you to horses and helped you become familiar with them, so too, do those around us need someone to tell them about Christ – to break their maligned perceptions of Christians and God by living out our faith in our words and actions.

In Acts 3 and 4, Peter taught of salvation through faith in Christ with great excitement, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Many heard the message and believed. They had not previously believed because they had not yet heard.

Romans 10:14-15 says, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’”

Who will you tell of Christ today? Who can you help grow in their faith or get over a negative experience at a church or with another Christian? People will never get over their fears or lose their false perceptions of God until we give them a reason to by telling them who God really is and how much He loves us, and then demonstrate His love by the way we live. Just as someone with a fear of horses will gradually become more comfortable around a horse after being exposed to one, so too will people become more comfortable with Christians and Christ after spending time with Christians truly living for God. Will you be the person that makes a difference in someone’s life today?

Questions for reflection:
1. What unknown activity do you fear that is holding you back from life to the fullest? What might be the result if you overcame that fear?
2. Who in your life may be rejecting God for fear of the unknown? How can you reach out to them today and introduce them to God?
3. How can you help unbelievers around you see Christians more favorably today?