"...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective..." ~ Philemon 1:6
Have you ever shared your faith? Maybe you want to, but you’re unsure how. Or you tried, and it didn’t go how you thought it would. Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s as simple as telling your story. When God has done something in your life, you have a story to tell, and that is worth sharing.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gave his followers a mission: Go and make disciples of all nations. This “Great Commission” is our mission too. Each one of us is called to bring good news to the people we encounter everyday. Do you know someone who needs hope? Don’t keep silent. They are counting on you to share the hope you have found in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:13-14 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how will they call on him if they have not believed in him? And how will they believe if they have not heard? And how can they hear unless someone tells them? We are the messengers who will carry hope to the world, and the world is waiting.
Sharing your faith isn’t an activity to be performed, but a lifestyle to be lived. Sharing the joy found in Jesus naturally pours out of a heart that has been radically transformed by grace, and spills on those we live life with. You don’t have to go far to find those who need a transforming encounter with grace. You’re already living in your mission field.
The gospel is simple. Jesus died for our sin, so we would no longer be separated from God. That is good news! But we cloud things with complicated doctrine, our denominational views, or use words that few understand. This confuses people and puts up barriers. When sharing with friends and family, keep it simple, and explain the gospel in a way they can understand.
In a society overly familiar with church, it can seem like those outside aren’t interested in faith. But they are still desperate for a cure for the symptoms they experience like fear, loneliness, and broken relationships. Like any good doctor, Jesus doesn’t just offer relief from the symptoms, but the cure for the disease that plagues humanity. Beginning with their symptoms, we must show them the disease of sin and introduce them to the healer.
