Our call as believers
Mark 12:30-31
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Is there any greater way to show love to our neighbors than to share the hope that is Christ? The love that is Jesus?
It may sometimes not be the easiest thing to do, but that is where the love comes in. Even in our discomfort or outright fear of rejection, it is love that drives us to it.
There is this amazing fact; When sharing the gospel of Jesus with our neighbors, our friends, our family, we are planting seeds for an eternity. Eternal life for those who accept. Is there any greater gift to share with others? A hint of life eternal with our God? The answer of course, is no, there is no greater, spiritual, and tangible gift. In all of the world and in all of the universe. A relationship and life eternal with our Savior. A life change that is more than just writings in a book. A gift so freely given to us, that we might not only partake in it, but share it. To sow the seed of the most authentic gift ever given. Again, not only freely given to us, but free to share with family, with friends and even with complete strangers.
As you have all heard before, we get to take just one thing with us to heaven: other people.
I cannot take money. I can’t take my wedding ring or my photo album (or even my all-consuming cellphone). What I can take is the most important of all, my family, my friends, and other people. The most important ‘carry-on’ (of sorts) that we could ever bring! It makes me smile to think I am my “Aunt Toni’s carry-on baggage”. I am only 100% comfortable with carrying that title. My Aunt Toni is the one who took me to church where I received the gift of salvation. I’m where I am today because she answered the call to share the gospel.
And at the risk of being repetitive (which I often am); the best gift we could ever receive or ever share, is free. We can receive it or share it as we are. I don’t have to dress up, or plan a party, or take a class. It can be received or shared in any place and at any time. There are no prerequisite courses required to receive it, or to share it.
The way this gift is given is so diametrically opposite of what we see in the world today where almost everything has a cost to us. Even if it isn’t a monetary one. You can have this widget because you have $1.99. You can have this job because you are qualified.
This gift only requires that you believe, exactly as you are. And the change that will follow in your life is joyous, exciting, emotional, and ongoing. The sanctification that follows, is a step closer to the things of God every single day as we press in. It makes my chest tighten in wonder and excitement even as I write this.
The fruit of our lives will testify to others that we have accepted this wonderfully free gift.
It costs me nothing to receive it. It costs me nothing to share it, even though it cost Jesus his life to give it.
What then exactly is our call as believers as it relates to witnessing? To the sharing part of our faith? To share this gift.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:28: “28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
Interesting the word everyone is used three times. Paul may have been writing to the church, but the sharing of the gospel is for the benefit of all.
He also tells us they proclaim, warn, teach, and present. Four different calls to action in one sentence. Four verbs. Nineteen words and four of them are action words. In a nutshell, tell others about Him. Roll up your sleeves and go to work.
Additionally, 1 Peter 3:15-16 says: “15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
Another all-encompassing word: anyone. Sounds like everyone.
And what a lovely verse. ‘Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”
Are you ready to always share why you love Jesus and why you believe? And are you always ready to do it in love? Because loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31) should compel us to share the why and to do it with gentleness and respect.
Again, there is no greater way to show your love for your neighbor. The greatest love of all.
Proclaim verbally.
Present with your actions.
Teach with your social media.
Pray for others to come to Christ.
Don’t like those options? Try one of these. Here is an article on 101 ways to share the gospel: https://hillsidechurchofchrist.com/101-small-ways-to-share-the-gospel/
Whether you are 17 or 71, married or single, introverted, or extraverted, you are called to witness for Christ. You may be someone’s only glimpse into the beauty, love, and hope that we live in with Jesus. There is a responsibility and a calling that is assigned to each of us when we become believers and it is crucial. We are the messengers. Whether it is an easy conversation or awkward, we are called to share. And if we love our family and our neighbors, how can we not share? We should all feel a strong pull to speak of the things of God.
It is very important that in the sharing of God’s word and the sharing of our stories, that we remember one very important fact. One crucial yet pressure-relieving fact: It is not our job to save others. It is not our job to get everyone to make that life-changing commitment to Christ. That’s not the calling.
It is our job to share. We sow the seed. Christ and Christ alone will reap the harvest. He brings them into His kingdom. Not us. We share, he finishes it. We plant. He harvests.
That doesn’t mean that we never pray with someone or lead them to committing their lives to Christ. Of course, we do. It’s wonderful when that happens. But you can’t live in the heaviness that you must always get to that ending. There is too much pressure there and because of free-will, every interaction will not end in salvation. Remember, in Matthew 11:30, Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
A yoke is a device for joining together to share a burden. It brings to mind a team of oxen. I ponder if Jesus refers to the yoke as a way to for us to join together so that he carries the heaviness of our burdens. Or perhaps it means to join together with others in the body of Christ (the church) and work together to carry this calling of sharing the most important revelation of all. Salvation through Jesus. Maybe both. We all share this call together. You, me, the church, and Jesus.
An interesting fact – the Israelites were under the Mosaic law which had some 613 commandments meant to make their lives easier. But along came their religious leaders and added thousands more, making lives burdensome. 613 seem like a lot? By comparison, the United State, according to Forbes, passed 4,312 public laws and 88,899 rules (whatever that means) between 1995 and 2016. So, 613 to rule a nation, not so many. Quite efficient in fact.
But in this commandment, we work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. Again, we plant the seed, he harvests. Whether it happens after you share the word with someone once or twice or a dozen times.
Think about your own path to salvation. Did it happen with only one conversation or were there numerous events that occurred to get you there? For most, it took many different interactions. Many different people and several various occurrences to bring them to commitment to Christ. Planting and harvesting.
Are you planting?
It is ours to share and if it leads to a life-changing prayer and commitment, then even better! Walk them through all the steps on the Romans Road. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/what-is-the-romans-road-to-salvation.html
But just because someone you have shared with does not make that commitment; does not mean you have failed. If you have shared as Christ commands us all to do, then you have done what you are called to do. Now it is up to the next believer to share or for the Holy Spirit to convict or to expand the calling for the non-believer. Or maybe you will be called to share with that particular person again. We all have family and friends we share with multiple times, often spanning decades.
Whatever the outcome is, is not ours to determine. It is just ours to share. To share the hope in us. It is a job well done and a very crucial part of our walk with God, sharing His word.
Share when you can, maybe once or maybe multiple times with the same person, but share. When it is time for the harvest, God will send someone (perhaps you) to help in harvesting. But not every time you share should you expect his harvest. Mostly, we sow and then trust in God for the next step.
Whether by words, actions or social media, there are multiple ways to reach others.
What concerns me about this great calling we all have, is the mindset of waiting. Obviously, waiting (patience) is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), but in this case, we are called to share our hope from early on in our Christian walk. Yet as Christians, I think we often think, when I’m on summer break, I’ll join a ministry that has a good ‘reach out’ program. I’ll share my story then.
Or this weekend at our Saturday church social, I’ll share that revelation I received when reading the bible, the other day.
Or I’ll help fill backpacks at the school supply drive to help share my faith in action.
Or, when I retire, I’ll start working in the youth ministry and share my story there.
All of these things are very good and are ways to show the love we have for others. But we must stop waiting and start sharing today. Where we are today.
I firmly believe that for most, the greatest ministry you will ever be a part of you are currently already in. What ministry is that you ask? Your daily life. Whether it be at the school you currently attend or the job you currently hold, or the little league you are currently part of. This is your ministry field. The people you see and interact with on a daily basis, they all need Jesus. They need to see the hope that is in you. How you act differently than they do. How you talk differently not only in language, but in what you talk about and how you talk. Your refusal to gossip. Your refusal to run people down. To not be part of the everyday negative culture that is so prevalent in the world.
You minister to these people every day in your steadfastness of hope and love even when life is bearing down hard upon you.
And of course, you minister to the world, these people, when you share the gospel of Jesus Christ, verbally. Waiting for another day to start your ministry is sad. Most of us have done it. Today is the day.
Today, you live on the battlefield. People who are living without eternal hope rub elbows with you day in and day out. Why would you wait until summer? Until retirement? Until tomorrow?
Whether your message is received or rejected, you are called to be a light to this world today.
I am currently reading a book called ‘Watch for the Light – Readings for Advent and Christmas.’ And credit where credit is due, the very first chapter titled ‘Action in Waiting’ grabbed me strong. This particular chapter was written by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt; and Christoph – I hear you.
He writes such things as; ‘That which is to come from God is the most important thing we have, in the past and in the present as well as in the future.’ Of course, advent, in my opinion, reflects who we are as Christians as in relation to the waiting on the second coming of Jesus and in this statement, Blumhardt does a spot-on portrayal of what should be so important to us as believers. That God has come to us and will again, is in and of itself a call to action. In the here and now. He also says, “It is only in God’s coming that even the Bible itself has value to us….”
The fact he has come and he will come again, is the motivating and exciting force behind our call to share. He (Blumhardt) then does a deeper dive into the call that we are all meant to be ‘in action’ during this waiting period. We should be working for God.
“When it comes to the things of God, however, we must not be concerned for what is ours, but only for what belongs to Christ. We should do this not merely for our own edification; we must become workers for God.” And “Our faith, our ardor, must be for this coming.” Again, while we are waiting on Jesus, we are working. Not waiting to work, not waiting to join a ministry, but working on his plan and his call, while we wait. In our jobs. In our schools. In our little leagues. We must roll up our sleeves and go to work.
While a formal ministry (church) is an absolute critical call of our Lord, know that most of us are in the trenches. We live, work, and learn daily in a world ruled by darkness. While we build each other up on Sundays and at Life groups and other important church events (make no mistake, Jesus is about his church), our ministry must also extend to those who don’t know Christ. We must continue to work in the trenches of the world. Sharing the light.
And aren’t we all so glad that someone, somewhere, listened to that call and shared God’s word with us? Gave us the truth of hope and the lifeline to a lifetime of love. A gift of eternity with Jesus.
“It is remarkable that not only God, creator of heaven and earth, but also God’s people must be a part of this plan. There need to be men and women who give themselves up for God’s kingdom and its justice.” One of the most gripping writings I read in the chapter, again, from Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt:
“Workers, not slackers, are dressed for service. Slackers wear their Sunday best. A person who is getting ready to work with his hands takes his coat off and rolls up his sleeves so that he can get at the matter without further ado. God has work that has to be done in work clothes, not in one’s Sunday best. As long as God’s kingdom has to be fought for, it is more important to be dressed for work – ready for action – to make an effort to do something in keeping with God’s plan, often against the whole weight of the world…. We have to learn to live in what is coming from God every day and to carry a light from this awareness into the darkness…. “
A good place to start or expand your ministry? How about in your daily life. Work. School. Sports. Book club. Grocery store. Gym
“But to do this work we have to have a light. With this light we can then illuminate every corner where we have work to do…. When someone holds a light in his hand and shines it here and there, he is immediately asked, “What business have you here?”
No doubt about it, often the world does not like what we have to say. But we say it anyway, in love. Their eternal life is worth the risk of rebuff. Every time.
The mechanics of this are simple. Just start.
I don’t need a three-point plan. I don’t need to hold a Teams meeting to discuss it. I don’t need to take a class. It is a one-point plan: Just start.
That’s it. Just start.
We know that the impact will be felt almost immediately. And you must be ready for those who will push back, as there may be many. But then you will reach the one. That one. The one who is ready. The one who makes the change. Whose life is changed for eternity.
What a most awesome reward for all of us.
