I share this story because I know people are afraid to witness. It is awkward sometimes but we must pray that God will give us the words to speak and His courage to faithfully do it.

This story took place in Scotland which just happens to be my mother nation being that my DNA (thank you 23andMe) is 75 percent Scottish, Irish, and English. I do not know how many of you have heard of the famous preacher Alexander Whyte but he lived from 1836-1921. He was a very famous preacher who was born to a single mother during the time period when that was a great shame. He grew up in abject poverty. His mother had stubbornly refused to marry his father stating that two wrongs do not make a right. During Rev. Whyte’s childhood she became a Christian and it changed both of their lives forever.

When Rev. Whyte’s mother refused to marry his father, his father left the unwed pregnant mother in Scotland for America. Through a series of events, he went from being a cobbler's apprentice to having his estranged father pay to put him through seminary. He ended up becoming a famous preacher who preached in London at St. George's Church to a regular packed church of over 1,000 congregants and, every Wednesday, the church was packed again to hear more gospel preaching.

As fascinating as Rev. Whyte's story is, this story is not about him but about one of the men that regularly attended services at his church. This man was a traveling salesman. Every week he would make sure he was in Edinburgh to listen to Alexander Whyte. He was so impressed by the message that it touched him. He wanted to witness, but he had a problem. He was afraid to give Bible studies and he was afraid of public speaking. He was afraid to open his mouth and tell people what the Bible teaches.

But he got an idea. He said, "You know, one thing I can do. I can't preach, I can't give Bible studies, but there is one thing that I can do. As I travel in my business I can invite people to go and listen to Alexander Whyte." So he did just that. One day he called one of his customers and said, "Please, could you go and listen?" This man was a non-believer and this man curtly replied, "No, I don't want to waste my time." But the salesman insisted, he even said to him, "I'll come and take you to the church." To please him, the man relented and said, "All right, I'll come, but I am coming reluctantly." "That's alright!" said the salesmen cheerfully and the two men traveled the distance to go hear Alexander Whyte together. The man that came with the salesmen was so impressed by the message that Rev. Whyte gave that the man gave his heart to Jesus Christ.

The salesman felt that he should go and tell Alexander White this wonderful testimony of this man who had just given his heart to Christ. So the next day the salesmen went to Alexander White's house. He knocked on the door and introduced himself and said, "I would like to let you know that your preaching is not in vain. This man, who I invited, gave his heart to Christ last Sunday." said the salesmen to the famed preacher.

Alexander Whyte looked at the salesmen and said, "You know, I have been trying to find you. I've been trying to meet you for a long time."

The salesman said in surprise, "Really, do you know me?" "No, I don't know you, but I know your name. Come in." said Alexander Whyte. He took him to his office, pulled out a file and produced twelve letters from individuals who had given their hearts to Christ because this man, the salesman, had invited them to the church. Four of those men wrote from seminaries where they had enrolled. They had become ministers. I am told that it was Alexander Whyte's preaching, but it was the salesman who brought them to the message of Jesus Christ and it changed their lives forever.

All that God wants you to do is to tell people what Christ means to you because Jesus wants us to bear fruit. The Bible is clear that we are saved by grace without works, but genuine justification by faith is not stagnant. It bears fruit. We may not see the results of our fruit. We human beings look at results to see whether our works are successful or not. But we must leave the results in God's loving hands. My husband and I volunteer two days a week as mentors to teenagers at our local Juvenile Detention Facility and the head of the Religious Services Department is always reminding us that we are seed planters and not the seed growers and he is right. Our job is to faithfully witness about Jesus Christ and plant the seeds. It is God's job to win souls. That is not our job, it is His job. Our job is to tell the world. Acts 1:8: "...You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

So wherever you find yourself today, remember that the point could be made that, although Rev. Alexander Whyte had an absolutely incredible testimony and preached the gospel to the masses, the public-speaking-afraid salesmen changed an equal number of lives by faithfully doing what God called him to do in his small sphere of influence. By faithfully sharing Jesus Christ right where you are Christ WILL use you to change the world.