Page 4 - October 2026 - Truth & Tidings

" ift up your eyes, and look” (Joh their personalities and even their manner-

isms. However, while knowing your audi-
4:35).
L At its core, John chapter four is
principle at work here: through service
essentially a clinic in soul winning. By ence is valuable, there is an even greater
example and exhortation, our Lord shows and time spent with them, not only did
the effect the gospel can have on individu- Joseph get to know them, but they also
als and communities, culminating in His got to know and trust him! Joseph’s words
agricultural analogy of a harvest, not of were definitely bolstered by his character
grain but of souls. This article will exam- and care. Regular contact is something we
ine some evangelistic parallels between should think about as we aim to reach out
the events in this passage and the life for Christ.
of Joseph, ultimately showing us some So, that’s how he handled the people.
practical lessons we can apply in our own But what about Joseph’s actual presen-
outreach and preaching. tation of truth? Knowing that God was
Beginning with Joseph’s prison experi- speaking to these men, he made sure that
ence, we are taught two very important his message was clear and faithful. What
things: how to handle people and how to a joy it must have been to tell that butler
handle the Word of God. the good news of future glory. With a
Joseph had been appointed supervisor smile on his face and enthusiasm in his
of the entire prison, but that didn’t mean voice, Joseph could rejoice in a message
he became a difficult, demanding boss. of hope for an otherwise hopeless man.
In fact, “he served them” (Gen 40:4) de- But good news wasn’t all Joseph had from
1
scribes the activities of a man who cared God; he also had a message of judgment.
daily for the needs of others. Indeed, be- To be faithful in telling only the good
fore these men saw Joseph as a preacher, news might have been easier; still, we can
they saw him as a man who cared. Far be almost sense a difference in Joseph’s facial
it from us to be known only as preachers, expressions and tone as he seriously ad-
seen in our community as takers and not dresses the baker and tenderly tells him
givers! Gospel opportunity often opens up of a grim future. There can be no other
through patient, simple service to others. way for the faithful sharer of the gospel.
Let us be very careful that our message
Have you ever wondered how Joseph to sinners contains a balance of sin and
even noticed the sad countenance of these salvation, and pray that we never find
men? How did he know that on that day ourselves compromising on the presenta-
something was different (Gen 40:6)? It tion of judgment. The salvation of souls
may seem too simple, but the practical largely depends on the faithfulness of the
answer is that he was close enough to messenger (Jer 23:28).
notice. From the simple act of spending
time with them, he had gotten to know Our Lord exemplifies this in John 4.
One can almost feel the delight as the
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the Lord Jesus says to the Samaritan woman,
KJV. “The water that I shall give him shall be

292 TRUTH kTidings October 2026