Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 20: Sharing My Faith”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
“Do you really believe the message of the Bible?”
“Of course,” I thought.
“Do you really believe that the ONLY way to heaven is through trusting that Jesus lived, died and rose again for you?”
“Of course,” I thought.
“Do you really believe that anyone who DOES NOT believe will perish eternally in hell apart from God?”
“Of course,” I thought.
“If we believe that this is the truth of Scripture and that Jesus Christ is the only solution for sin and eternal life in heaven, then why do we struggle so much to share that good news?”
“Guilty as charged,” I thought.
Before I go on, I realize and I want you to realize you too are loved and forgiven in Jesus Christ. However, this dialogue I heard is compelling.
The Scripture is clear:
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
The Scripture is clear:
Romans 10:14 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? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
The Scripture is clear:
Mark 16:15 [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
The privilege is real.
Sharing our faith assumes we have faith to share. This is the first blessing. God has worked a confident trust in our hearts to believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The gift we have to share is first the gift we have been given.
The need is real.
All around us are people who don’t believe in Jesus, let alone know who Jesus is. The need for investing time in people, hearing their story, and connecting their story to Jesus is not lacking. Jesus encouraged: Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
The Gospel is real.
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
So I pray the devotions this week are encouraging and practical to equip us all to better communicate fearlessly and clearly the mystery of the Gospel to the people we know and care about.
Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Apply: Which of these Scriptures encourages you the most when you think about sharing your faith with others?
Prayer: Lord we pray that whenever we have opportunity to share our faith, you enable me to communicate your wonderful message of grace with boldness and clarity. AMEN.