TELL THEM!
By Erik Farstad
March 31, 1998
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." Mark 6:34
Everywhere Jesus went he was a walking testimony of God’s life changing power. Today’s question is are you? Are you a witness of God’s life changing love through his son Jesus Christ? Ask yourself, when was the last time you shared Christ with someone? When was the last time you were open about your faith? Maybe this wasn’t sharing the salvation message, but standing up for your faith at the office or school. When people started ragging on Christianity or Jesus, did you say something...anything? Or do you just keep your beliefs to yourself, not wanting to cause trouble?
Well, let me share this. Jesus was the biggest trouble maker the world had ever seen! Aren’t you glad he brought his trouble to you? The Pharisees and religious leaders of the day, thought Christ was blasphemous claiming to bring salvation to the world. Today, as a believer in Christ, you are feeling that same kind of persecution. If you believe in Jesus Christ you may be thought of as trouble by many of your peers. *Only pushy people, the self righteous, try to force others into believing in "their" religion.* Sound familiar?
Well, don’t be alarmed and don’t be afraid. You’re not trouble, you’re trying to help others out of trouble! The first thing you must do is remember it’s not you that people are calling trouble, it’s them realizing the sin in their lives. As you witness to people, share God’s love and the change that Jesus can bring, the holy spirit works convicting their lives. When people’s sin is brought to the light, it is not pretty. Most people don’t want to think of themselves as sinners, so they blame you or Christianity for causing them to feel guilty. They look around and see many people like themselves and think that Christians are trying to make themselves better by making them feel guilty!
So as you can see, witnessing can be difficult. You can be thought of as trouble, self righteous and a guilt causer! So what do you do? Do you stop sharing? Stop caring? NO! If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are no better than the "biggest sinner" at your office or work, you are just forgiven!!! For we all are the "biggest sinners!" God loves you as much as He loves him/her. And perhaps he put you there to share His love with that person. If you really have compassion in your heart for the loss, those that do not know Jesus, you will share. And let me tell you the world needs A LOT of compassion.
That person that says you’re trouble, that you’re self righteous, needs you in their life! Perhaps you’re just afraid that they’ll call you names and think you’re weird, well take it as a compliment. For you are different, you have the living Christ in you. That person needs someone to show Jesus to them personally, intimately, freely with no biblical jargon and lingo. Share that you are real, a person with problems just like them. Share with them your life, your testimony, what Jesus has done to change you. Didn’t someone do the same for you? Aren’t you forever grateful?
FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE LIFE IS TO SHORT AND TOO MANY ARE DYING WITHOUT JESUS...TELL THEM...TELL THEM!!!
In Him, "E"