'Share-a-coke' with Jesus - 4 Sep 2013

We live in a noisy world. The average american sees between 3,500 and 5,000 adverts every day. Every company is looking for the most exciting way to get its name to the four corners of the world. 

I was recently speaking to a missionary who travels to the rural villages of India to preach the gospel. He was describing a recent encounter with the head of tribe of one such village:

"Have you ever heard of Jesus Christ?" asked the missionary,

"Jesus? No I have not heard of Jesus, I have heard of Coca-Cola and Pepsi" replied the head of the village. 

When the soda companies of the world are doing a better job of the great commission, we have a problem. As followers of Jesus we don't have to invest billions trying to 'spice up the message', the gospel is the good news of God who, out of his outrageous love for each person, put on skin and bones and came to redeem the planet. We don't have to sell Jesus, but we must tell of Jesus. 

My Facebook has recently been awash with the classic red and white of Coca-Cola as they stumbled on a brilliant advertising idea with their 'share-a-coke' campaign.  

For 24-7 Prayer the vision has always been prayer, mission and justice. In the place of prayer you connect with God and as you spend time with Him, you get his heart for the world - you both pray and become willing to be the answer to your prayers. 

So today, why not, 'share-a-coke' with Jesus and then simply share Jesus….

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms:
Feature image is a derivative of the image 'On the Pershore Road in Stirchley, Birmingham. Heading towards Dog Pool Lane.Primesight billboard - Coca Cola - Share a Coke with ... Chris' by Elliott Brown.