Bible Verse: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15
Scripture Reading: John 4
Everyone is an evangelist for what they love most.
Our family discovered a radio theatre version of the Chronicles of Narnia. We loved it and told nearly everyone we knew about it. Beloved stories had new life and power as the music swelled and voice actors brought characters to life. We were delighted when converts bought or borrowed the CDs and found the same joy in Narnia that we did!
I remember standing in my living room and telling yet another person about the Narnia production. A thought suddenly popped into my head…
“You don’t talk about Me like that, Tim.”
Touché. I was a pastor who rarely talked about Jesus outside Christian company. The Spirit graciously dropped this truth into my mind and life, changing them both.
Jesus didn’t coerce people to share the gospel. The woman at the well didn’t go tell everyone about her life-changing encounter with Jesus because she had to (John 4). Jesus sent the disciples out two by two sooner than most churches would, and they went without food or money, facing likely alienation and persecution (Matthew 10). The disciples had less training and faced far greater risks than most Western Christians today.
So why did they share? How did the counter-cultural message of the Gospel, offensive to Jews and Romans alike (1 Corinthians 1:23), catch on?
The Gospel caught on because it is true and because it is good news.
There is no one like Jesus! The Gospel was spread because new life emerged wherever the good seed of the Kingdom found fertile soil (Mark 4).
The elephant in the room of our churches is that very few of us talk about Jesus with others. Legitimate explanations and blatant excuses abound. How are you doing in this area? Does talk about the goodness of God’s Kingdom flow as spontaneously as talk of your favourite shows, books, travel destinations, etc?
A mix of fears (“What if I upset people?”), culture (“Don’t talk about religion, sex, and politics”), doubts (“Do I really believe?”), insecurity (“I don’t know what to say”), and habit (“I just don’t do this”) kept me from talking about Jesus. God’s taken me on a beautiful journey, largely guilt- and shame-free. I love Him more, and I’ve found new life talking about the life in God’s Kingdom.
Everyone is an evangelist for what they love most.
Prayer: Lord, I believe. Help me with my unbelief (Mark 9:24). Jesus, I pray that You’d open up doors for me to share the hope I have in You, I pray You’d disarm my doubts and fears, and I pray that You’d lead me into the goodness of sharing the life there is in Your name.
Reflection: In the freedom of grace, ask these questions:
- Do I want to share about Jesus? Why or why not?
- Is the Gospel good news? Why or why not?
- What holds me back from talking more about Jesus?
- Why would I share my faith more often?
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