Introduction
Hello all. My name is Seth and this is your daily devotion. I’ve been to more than a few Bible studies and a recurring theme in our discussions is how difficult it can be to share the Gospel of Christ. Given that Evangelism is our primary responsibility as Christians, this certainly cause for concern. What is it that causes us to struggle?
The Challenges
A lot of our responses include being afraid of saying the wrong things, especially around people we don’t know. We also dread being made to answer challengenging questions about our faith.
“Why does a good God allow bad things to happen?”
“How can you trust what the Bible says? It’s been translated, rewritten and changed countless times over the past two thousand years.”
“How do you know for sure that the Judeo-Christian god is the real one? There are plenty of other options.”
“I used to go to church. It was filled with mean people and I was treated terribly. Why should I put stock in anything you say?”
These are, of course, just a few examples. We can say we stand on our faith, but if we don’t have a defense, what are we really standing on? Because of this, We often fail to deliver this very important message of salvation.
Why We Struggle with the Gospel
One could easily attribute our shortcomings to self doubt and social anxiety. That’s certainly part of it, but what I believe it ultimately comes down to is this. We aren’t prepared. We simply don’t know what we’re doing. This is definitely a problem, especially when you consider that we have all the tools and resources we need. Jesus didn’t leave us empty handed. We should be ready, but we’re not.
So, what do we do? How can we be truly ready to go out and share the good news? There are plenty of good answers to this, but I think these two scriptures sum it up quite nicely.
The Gospel Solution
The first is 2 Timothy 2:15-“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
This one should be obvious. We need to know scripture. It’s not only the Word of God, but it is God. The more we study it, the closer we become to Him. Also His Holy Ghost can return that knowledge and wisdom to us when we need it. In doing so, we can be ready, regardless of the situation.
The second is harsh, but necessary. Pay close attention. Matthew 7:5-“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
This is about more than not judging others. God wants us to remove specks, reveal evil and bring the nations to Him, but we cannot do so effectively if we continue to ignore our own problems. I’m not just talking about on an individual level.
Taking Accountability
The Church as a whole is gravely flawed and the body of Christ is warring against each other. We talk of politics and conspiracies. Our hateful speech and protests divide us. We establish countless factions and denominations when we’re supposed to be one body. We make believers and nonbelievers alike our enemies instead of making ourselves servants.
How can we be witnesses for Christ in the state we’re in? It’s time to take accountability and return to Jesus, eager to start fresh. There’s so much work to be done to make up for generations of terrible decisions, but we serve a God that can restore all things.
Conclusion/Prayer
We must cling to Christ and His entire word diligently. Let us study and face our struggles with Jesus. That’s how we will spread His gospel. Let’s pray on this.
Lord Jesus, You have tasked us with what is the most important mission in the history of this world, to go unto all and share the good news of your death and resurrection. The salvation of many is at stake. This is not to be taken lightly. Inspire us to study Your word. Inspire us to change our ways and return to You. Give us the confidence to speak boldly about you. We ask this in Your name. Amen.
That’s all I’ve got for you. Go in peace.