When my wife and I go somewhere with a group, I become a social butterfly and she looks for a place to hide. If we need to keep a low profile, she’ll jokingly say, “Don’t get any Social Security numbers.” I like to know about people. I like hearing their story, and do my best to look for avenues for us to connect. Hen you connect with people, they begin to pull down their invisible wall one brick at a time. Once their wall is down, you can really get to know the person and find out what’s really going on inside them or what they’re going through. It’s then that I can give them solutions that they’ll listen to and implement. If I never connect, I never get that opportunity.
The apostle Paul, who wrote the most books in the New Testament was a learned, well traveled person. He too looked for ways to connect with people. Everywhere he went, people gravitated to him and he had the opportunity to share the message of Christ. He attracted large crowds and was not afraid to get up and speak. He understood the importance of relational equity. People won’t listen to the hard things you have to say unless you’ve built some equity into the relationship. He was able to build it with the early churches. Because of that, he could correct in love and point them to a better way of living. He was also able to use that to share the Gospel with many different nationalities and people groups.
In 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, Paul wrote, “I became “weak” to the weak to win the weak. I have adapted to the culture of every place I’ve gone so that I could more easily win people to Christ. I’ve done all this so that I would become God’s partner for the sake of the gospel” (TPT). Paul became all things to all people so that He could partner with God. I know the thought of meeting and talking to large groups of people terrifies many of you. However, God can partner with you using your personality and skill set if you’ll be open to it. You don’t have to be a social butterfly for God to do great things through you. Wherever you go, whomever you meet, look for opportunities to connect so that God can do something in someone’s life. God does some of His greatest work in people’s lives in one on one situations. In nearly every case, He looks to partner with someone like you.
Photo by Cytonn Photography:
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
It’s the same way with my wife and me. She waits around after church while I talk with people. Like you said, In order to positively influence someone it helps to have a relationship with them.
It’s the same with my wife and me! Relationships matter.
When you discover a connection, it’s like a light within shines brighter, feeling seen, heard and not alone. I find it amazing how we can even become so comfortable, vulnerable with people who are complete strangers, open up and share our story.
Those connections are often divine encounters. We must entertain strangers and be willing to share our story. I’m always praying and looking for these type of encounters.
I appreciate your thoughtful reflection and response! I also believe everyone who crosses our path has a purpose and a reason for doing so. Not always do I know or understand at the moment, or maybe until weeks, months or years later-or perhaps I may never know in certain circumstances. God’s ways and His truth have a way of shining through, bringing our focus back on him, loving and serving the best we can. Acceptance, seems to be my word for this year. Acceptance of what is and what was, the importance of being and in the now.