Many of us speak out boldly and excitedly when we are discussing our favorite sports team, a hobby of ours, a person we really think highly of, someone we love, or a myriad of other topics. But there is one topic we become strangely silent on and shy away from…
…telling someone about Jesus.
That thought struck me this morning as I read Romans 10:9-10,13 and 14-15,17. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved…For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (9-10,13). “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless some tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scripture say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’…So faith faith comes from hearing, that, hearing the Good News about Christ.'” (14-15,17) {Scripture from NLT}
As I follow those verses, the first three speak of coming to Christ for salvation. The latter three speak of someone making the message known. I know the common excuse: “I can’t. I’ll live a good life in front of them.” That’s good…to a point. But there are many who live good, moral lives but are not Christ-followers. So the message of salvation never gets told or is confused by “Don’t worry. Be happy. Treat others right. Be moral.” Sadly, the life-changing, life-transforming message of Christ is left out of the equation. As the latter 3 verses tell us someone has to say something! As verse 17 says, “Faith comes by hearing” but not just any words, but “hearing the Good News about Christ.”
Being a silent witness is good…to a point. Our actions do need to match our words or form the foundation of credibility when we do say the words. But it is still important that we speak when the need arises.
We all need to wear sandals. (v.15)
You absolutely hit the nail on the head with this one! This weekend our church is offering a 2 day evangelism training. I am really looking forward to some new insights and tried and true methods on how to introduce the gospel in regular conversation.
Thanks Pam and I hope you have a good weekend of learning and doing.
May we always be ready to tell others about the wonderful salvation offered only through Jesus and live accordingly. Blessings, Bill!
Ready and willing should be our motto. 🙂
So true Bill. I know I have missed to many opportunities, that God put before me. I am getting better at it, but I still need a lot of work to truly say, I am willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and letting my actions back up my thoughts. I think a key thought should be that on the people that are hardest to discuss Christ with, to remember you do not need to preach the sermon of a lifetime, sometimes just drop the seeds. Each time you see them, make sure to cultivate that soil in small ways. Standing firm when someone says negative things about Christ, to be bold and state I am a follower of Christ, I would love to tell you why.
We all miss opportunities for sure Gail. But I think your suggested approach is the best. I am not a “preacher” when it comes to this. I want to lay the groundwork and plant the seeds. It then allows God to bring the fruit and I can take no credit for it.