Share the Good News

~By: Silvana Place~

“...Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17 NIV

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” John 14:6 NIV

I recently read an article that posed this question: When was the last time you shared the Gospel message with someone who is not yet a follower of Christ? When was the last time you were able to be a witness to the lost? God is still looking for His people to be the messengers of His life-saving, life-changing message.

It was not asking when was the last time you prayed for someone who was sick, or you helped the needy, or even discipled an already believer. As surrendered Christ-followers this should be our lifestyle, but we are also called to go out into the world and share the Good News with those who do not yet know Jesus. This requires willingness and obedience on our part. Are we willing?

Perhaps there are many reasons why Christians tend to shy away from being a witness. An article I recently read on Into the Harvest stated three of the main reasons why Christians tend to not share their faith. The first one was that they do not feel prepared. Secondly, they fear rejection. And number three was simply that they are too comfortable in their safe ‘Christian’ circles. Jesus, help us!

The Word of God speaks a lot about being obedient to His call and being prepared to be His witness, but it also speaks about allowing the Holy Spirit to do the job He was sent to do in our lives. Part of that is helping us to be loving yet bold in our faith to be a messenger of the Gospel.

The truth is that, yes, we are called to live in community and grow in our faith with fellow Christ-followers, but we have to recognize that the heart of the Father is also calling us to go, spend time with, and reach those who have not yet surrendered their lives to Christ. He uses you and I to do this. And, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. We don’t have to go on a mission trip or become a minister in order to be qualified to share the Gospel. Jesus is calling all Christ-followers and simply asking that we share with others His story -- His life, His death and resurrection, and His truth that there is salvation in Him alone. He is also asking us to testify about our personal ‘Jesus story’ -- our own testimony of redemption.

If we take a closer look, there are opportunities all around us: at the grocery store, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in our workplaces, and even in our own families. Are our eyes open to notice people? Are our ears able to hear the Holy Spirit nudging us to go? Are we being obedient and going?

I needed this reminder. This is my prayer, and I encourage you to join me in making this your own:

Jesus, help me to be a faithful witness. Help me to love people enough that I care about where they will spend eternity. Help me to share your Gospel message of the Good News with them. Holy Spirit, help me to be a disciple who is obedient. Equip me to equip other followers of Christ to stay the course and to then go out and do the same. Thank you, Jesus, for that person who was obedient long ago and shared the Gospel with me. My eyes were opened, and my life was never the same! Help me to be that person for others!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV

“...I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 NIV