Editor’s Note: Not for very young readers. Read Parts One and Two.
Do you remember before you truly knew Christ? Maybe you were like me and grew up with the knowledge of Christ your whole life, or maybe you grew up not ever hearing Christ’s name. Either way you know what it feels like to be alone, afraid, lost and worthless. No matter how high and mighty you claim to be, you’ve felt the sting of hopelessness and the bitter cold of rejection. You know the doubt that creeps in when life turns upside down. You know the hurt that comes when your loved ones stomp on your heart. We are all born sinful. We all have felt the hot breath of hell on our backs.
Why then, after we have found the truth, the everlasting hope of salvation, the rock, protector, provider, redeemer and true Love do we hide behind our insecurities instead of sharing our faith?
I know you’ve heard it all before. I have too. We’re supposed to get out there, share your faith, and be bold, blah blah blah. But the truth of the matter is we live in a dying world. It is more then physical death; it is spiritual death. This isn’t a game any more. People are dying everyday in our own neighborhoods. Have you even noticed?
In walks desperation.
This world is desperate. There are girls in your schools, neighborhoods, and churches that cut themselves last night simply to see if they are still alive. There are women who are dependant on meth and children who are contemplating suicide. Have you taken the time to see them? Do you have the compassion to reach them?
I know it’s a difficult task. It’s easy to be comfortable on our Christian pedestals and neglect those who are in need around us. Yet sisters, it’s beyond that now. You can’t walk down the street without seeing blatant sin. It’s time to stop being afraid or disgusted by sinners and start laying down our lives for them.
We as Christ’s daughters must stand up and proclaim the gospel with our lives. You don’t have to be bold and outgoing to reach your generation. But you have to be willing for Christ to lead you and be ready to follow His voice no matter the cost.
I can not tell you how many times I have ignored God’s voice out of fear and have missed opportunities to share the gospel. I remember one very specific time that I was talking to a “Christian” friend whose views were anything but Biblical. I knew God was telling me to step forward and proclaim the truth but instead I withered back and said nothing. I have regretted this and many other missed opportunities. Please hear me: don’t let fear keep you from sharing God’s life-saving message. Staying comfortable isn’t worth risking someone’s life.
It isn’t just the foreign missionary’s job. It is our job. Did Christ not call all of us to follow the Great Commission? Mark 16:15 says, “Go unto all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Aren’t our neighborhoods, towns, and states a part of “all the world”? Then who are we to ignore a command of God?
So… are we suppose to run around screaming about Jesus to everyone’s face? No. It’s using the opportunities God gives us. It’s standing firm and walking in truth. It’s crying out to the Heavenly Father and saying “Father, I’m desperate to see this world won for You… so use me.”
So I ask: are you desperate? Are you desperate enough to reach a world that’s crawling with sin and injustice? Are you desperate enough to stand tall and cry with all God’s children saying “Here I am Lord, send me”?
You don’t have to be bold and outgoing to reach your generation. But you have to be willing for Christ to lead you and be ready to follow His voice no matter the cost.
That is so profound. I have struggled at times with those who teach that all witnessing has to be the bold, in-your-face type. God uses each person’s natural giftings and personality for a special purpose, and our duty, as was pointed out here, is to simply be available for God to use. “Here am I, send me!” needs to be the cry of our heart along with a willingness to obey whatever the cost.
That really, really blessed me. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, that is something I’ve been convicted on lately as well.
Mrs. Holman, (right?)
Thank you for writing this post. You have expressed my very feelings. Thanking you for sharing from your heart. I know you did, because no one could write like that without felling first.
Thanks for challenging us all to do more than just pray. For challenging us to put action behind our prayers. For reminding us to step out of our comfort zone. To reach out to others no matter what it costs us.
May God bless you greatly.
“God’s girl”
That’s an excellent post! The importance of spreading the gospel every opportunity we get is continually more neglected in today’s pulpits. It’s been a frustration of mine for years. This post reminded me of Ezekiel 33, when we’re told that to not warn people of the coming judgment causes their blood to be on our hands; it’s spiritual murder. May God continually give us more boldness to bring Him glory in our generation.
-Mary Jo
Great article! Thanks. I’ve really identified with this series.
I too have missed many opportunities to witness for the Lord because of fear. But praise God, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me’
YES! YES! YES! again I say YES! Great post, this topic has been on my heart for some time now. Was thinking about going into foreign missions but GOd has brought it to my attention that there is a mission field ripe for the harvest right here in my own city. Thanks for being bold enought to share with us! Blessings to you!!
So true! I found out last weekend that a home school friend I had just visited with (whom I hadn’t seen in a while because I had moved) had left a suicide note last summer addressed to her parents and only by the grace of God had they found her in time. It shocked me. She hadn’t mentioned anything about it when we visited together, and I had been blind enough to not realize anything had gone on until my mom told me about it later. I thought about how terrible I would have felt if something would have happened to her. All that to say – remember to keep in contact with and pray for your Christian friends also because you never know what might be going on.
This post is so convicting, yet encouraging at the same time. I have been working the last few months whenever I could with a ministry that reaches out to street children in the poorest areas of a nearby city. I have had so many people tell me that it is too dangerous and I should be more careful, but I choose to believe that God can protect me just as much in a “bad” area as He can in my own home. While I do understand that we must not be careless, I completely agree that God gives us many opportunities, and we must take them and make a difference for His glory. We as Christ’s daughters must stand up and proclaim the gospel with our lives…you have to be willing for Christ to lead you and be ready to follow His voice no matter the cost.
I have shared your fear when God has opened a door for me to share my faith and proclaim the truth. Recently God gave me a word, however, which has helped dissipate my fears.
“You need to fear disobedience more than you fear obedience.”
That proverb certainly changed my perspective on things. Thank you for writing.
- B
I’m am SOOO happy to see that God is raising up a generation of women who are willing to follow His calling to reach the world.
Be bold- be courageous- be a warrior. We all have a calling to reach the lost- so lets get out and fulfill it!