Microevangelization

I was ordering checkbooks last night when a little blank text box got me thinking.

When I first thought about it, I thought I had a “chicken or the egg” paradox on my hands. I was thinking, what came first? My love for Christ, or my thirst for a relationship with Him?

Combined, both have permeated into all kinds different aspects of my life. Even this little blank text box.

The box was for a “signature line message” to be printed on my checks. Its free and I can fit one small sentence. Searching for the perfect sentence made a simple 30-minute chore go until 12:30am!

You see, my thirst would not be satisfied unless I used this canvas as an opportunity to evangelize.

I had only three criteria: It had to be 40 characters or less, it had draw people to God, and it couldn’t be exclusive to only the people who already knew Him. For example, if I had used “My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me?” although an incredible verse, someone with no knowledge of the last words of Jesus or the 22nd Psalm would not be able to put those words in context. (Especially if they were on a personal check!)

My first idea was: For God so loved the world… John 3:16

But, even if I used the Jn abbreviation for John, it was too many characters. I could elimiate the elipsies, but I felt that without them, the quotation wouldn’t properly convey the cliffhanger. That God loved the world so much he DID something about it! And you should read the Bible to find out what that is!

Ultimately, I had quite the spiderweb of thoughts after flipping through my bible. My bible lead me to a guide to the Mass, which reminded me of some of my favorite choir compositions, which lead me to Latin, and then all the above in Latin, to general Latin phrases. After a little prayer and a little Googling, I finally made a choice.

“Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus” A benedictan motto.

All cleverness aside, I’m sure anyone who asks will have that general quizzical expression that most get, but I’ll use it as an opportunity to explain the beauty.

I see this kind of “microevangelization” everywhere. We all do it. We have bumper stickers or ichthys emblems, jewelry with crucifixes or the Miraculous Medal, t-shirts and even tattoos. Our love for Christ is so great, it finds a way to permeate into all the small details of our lives, that we might be able to share that love with others. And His love for us is so much greater that he gives us the opportunities with which to do so.

That in all things God may be glorified.

So, in what ways do you microevangelize?