Are you burdened?

If I were to give you a never-ending supply of a magical elixir and tell you it would instantly cure cancer in children, what would you do?  Given this gift, most would immediately find the nearest hospital and start giving out generous spoon full’s.  After that ward was cured there would be an insatiable fire to find another hospital and group of children to save.

Now let’s throw a curve ball into the mix.  This elixir looks like sewage, smells horrible and appears to have chunks of rotten food floating in it.  But given its appearance and smell, there is a pleasant surprise; its taste is amazingly sweet.  Now remember, you have absolute certainty that this will work with a 100% cure rate, but your not a Doctor and have no medical training.  Do you think you could convince a dying child to take a spoon full?  Not only could you, given a little time I am confident you would become very good at it.

It doesn’t take a genius to see the comparison I’m making here.  

Why is it that the thought of curing cancer in children stirs up noble ideas and confidence but sharing our Christian faith often brings those of doubt or inadequacy and for many - fear?   I believe it starts with a lack of practice.  Sharing our faith is like any other endeavor we take on in that you won’t become adept at it without first making an attempt.  Like Nike say’s “Just do it”.  You can’t always be successful but truth be told, there are no failures in sharing faith, only seeds to be planted.  We have been given a gift infinitely greater than a fictional potion to cure cancer.  The gift we have been given is eternal life and the power to extend it to others, as well as the obligation to do so.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

Look at this passage closely, it’s not a request it’s a command and Matthew felt it so powerful he ended his gospel with it and the very words of Christ including, “I am with you always” letting us know that were aren’t alone when talk to others about Him.  Given what we know about Jesus, Him being God and all, I don’t see Him putting forth this command unless we all had the ability to be somewhat effective at doing so.  You don’t need to be a Biblical Scholar or have 1000 scriptures committed to memory to talk about why your life is different now that you have asked Christ into it. 

The great 19th century Author and Evangelist, Charles Spurgeon had the following to say about sharing the Gospel:

“The way to do a great deal, is to keep on doing a little. The way to do nothing at all, is to be continually resolving that you will do everything.”

Christ had a tremendous burden for us, so much so that he made the ultimate sacrifice out of a perfect love only He was capable of.  The burden given us, to simply tell others about Him, is pretty light in comparison.  Stop thinking about it and why you can’t and take a small step.  Someone you know wants to hear from you about this, you might even know who it is.  If you don’t, ask God to reveal them to you and tell them about what Jesus has done for you.  I can’t make many 100% guarantees outside of this; it will make your day and possibly someone’s life…

Grace and peace

Jeff