What would your children say is important to you?

“I wish I spoke about Jesus the way I speak about my Instant Pot!” I said the comment to a Christian friend as a joke, after I was telling her about the three different ways I used my Instant Pot that day. But, as the saying goes, many a true word is said in jest. And the truth is: two people have recently bought Instant Pots because of how much I evangelise about mine. So I haven’t been able to shake what I’d said that day.

The thing about my Instant Pot (for those not in the know, it’s an electric pressure cooker!) is that I use it several times a day. It makes a difference to my daily life. I spend time with it, I even talk to it, though (thankfully) it doesn’t talk back. And so it is quite natural for me to speak about it on the school run and when a friend comes round for a meal.

We’re all evangelistic about something

Maybe for you, it’s your football team, a TV show, a favourite author, a certain productivity tip, the importance of nutrition, natural remedies… it could be anything. But I’m sure there’s something that you talk about often to those around you. What would your kids say is important to you? That’s a good barometer for what you’re evangelistic about. Mine would likely say: stories, walking, and bone broth!

But I know my kids would also say: Jesus. They know He is important to me because we read the Bible together and pray as a family, because we chat about our faith as we walk to school, because we go to church each week and spend time with Christians. But it doesn’t always feel completely natural to talk about these things, does it? Especially with those who aren’t believers. At times it’s an effort to even do these things, let alone talk about Jesus when He’s not part of a pre-planned activity.

Why is it easier to talk about my Instant Pot than it is to talk about Jesus? In part it’s because I don’t fear any negative repercussions from that conversation. But it’s also because I genuinely believe an Instant Pot would improve my friends’ lives – if only in a small way. Is it that I don’t think this about Jesus? Of course not! I fully believe that Jesus came that we may have life and life to the full (John 10v10), but I wonder if in the midst of remembering PE kits and club schedules, of meal prep and spelling tests, Jesus doesn’t feel that practical at times.

But walking with Jesus isn’t just another thing on our to-do list. Jesus is the fount of living water, He is the one who sustains us and takes our burdens. He not only paid the price for our redemption, but He intercedes for us daily, He strengthens us for our tasks, He is with us in the midst of the laundry and the appointments and the worries. I wonder if, when we actively remember this, we might speak more naturally of Jesus, both to our children and to those around us, than when we’re carrying on with our routines without giving much thought to the difference Jesus makes.

It’s not wrong for us to be enthusiastic about our kitchen appliances, hobbies or interests. Those are all blessings that God gives us. But if they’re all we ever speak about, it could indicate that we’ve forgotten the blessings of Jesus’ presence with us day in, day out. Maybe if we’re enjoying our personal walks with Jesus more, if we’re acknowledging to ourselves the difference He makes in our lives day by day, not simply treating Him as our ticket to heaven, perhaps conversation about Him might flow more freely. I’m praying that it would.