August 21 I Tuesday

Psalms 107-109

1 Corinthians 4

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”     —Mark 16:15

 

Soon after I became a Christian I realized we were to speak to other people about Jesus. I was very young, still in school, and thought if I talked to my friends they would laugh at me because they knew I did not live up to the things I would be saying. I thought it would be easier speaking to someone I did not know at random, but I was worried I would get tongue-tied talking face-to-face. To avoid embarrassment, I decided to venture into the world of evangelism by using the phone. 

I rode my bicycle to the local telephone box and dialed 0 to speak with the operator. “Number please,” she said. “I don’t want a number,” I replied. “Then what do you want?” she asked. “Would you mind if I asked you a question?” “Alright, make it quick,” she responded. “Are you ready to meet God?” I asked. “Yes, anytime,” and bang! Down went the phone. I rode home feeling slightly depressed and discouraged, but at least the ice was cracked a tiny bit.

Few Christians find evangelism easy or appealing. The most eager to witness for Christ are usually new Christians who are so excited by the new life they have discovered that they want to proclaim it to everyone. Sadly, this enthusiasm tends to wear off in time and gets buried under daily routine, obligations and responsibilities. It is God alone who does the work in a person’s heart that brings people into relationship with Christ, but we are the means through which God brings people to Jesus. 

God always works through people, and He has entrusted evangelism to us. The call of every believer, both individually and corporately as the church, is to go into the world and preach the Gospel. Angels are by definition messengers, but God does not send angels to evangelize. It is God alone who does the work in a person’s heart that brings people into relationship with Christ. God brings people to Jesus.

Sometimes we avoid sharing the Gospel out of fear others will think we are trying to force belief down their throats, but evangelism is nothing like that. It is saying, “You were created so that the only way to find life’s intended meaning, purpose and fulfillment is in relationship with Jesus.” We were all lost once, but someone had to introduce us to Christ, and He asks us to do the same for others. Having been found by Christ, may we not give fear a foothold, but be willing to share our faith so others might be drawn to experience for themselves the immeasurable blessing of knowing Christ.

Prayer: Gracious God, as someone once shared You with me, grant me the confidence to do the same with others. Thank You for being greater than my excuses or my fears. 


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