Responsibility

“’Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 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?” - Romans 10:13-14

Knowing Jesus, and how to share Him with others, enables us to be a tool in God’s hand. Many Christians are nervous when they hear the word, “evangelism.” The truth, however, is that we have nothing to fear. Just think - God wants to use you and your story to reach people who are far from Him with the hope of bringing them into a personal relationship with Christ.

Part of the reason that so many Christ followers are hesitant to share their faith is that they are focusing on the wrong person. Perhaps the focus is on self. We worry, “What if I mess up?” “I don’t know all the answers.” “I have trouble expressing myself.” What this shows is that deep down, we believe it us up to us to convert someone. Self-focus stems from a lack of dependence on God’s power and a lack of faith in His willingness to use us.

The other mistake is to focus on the response of the person you are sharing the Gospel with. While of course we want to be mindful of the other person’s personality, background, and understanding, we cannot control the response. What we can do is stand on God’s promise that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” and believe Him when He says, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” Our responsibility is to make sure they hear the biblical Gospel. Our responsibility is to love in word and deed, and to pray fervently for the souls who need Jesus.

There is only one person we should focus on when we share the message of God’s grace, and that is God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Herein lies our power, our supernatural love and compassion, our motivation and our reward. Keeping our focus on God assures that we are listening and following His lead – the only One who can melt hearts of stone.

Dear God, Please forgive me for the times I keep the Good News of your salvation to myself. Change my heart and grant me the courage to proclaim the Gospel with power, and in compassion. 

 In Jesus’ Name, Amen.