I Exhort You to Evangelize!
Do You Share the Gospel?
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
– Luke 3:15-22
“So with many other exhortations he preached the good news to the people.” When it comes to sharing the Gospel, when was the last time you did so in a way that would qualify as “exhortation”? Maybe the question that I should be asking is, do you share the Gospel?
Let’s talk about evangelism for a few minutes. At its core, the Great Commission exhorts – that is, encourages – us to evangelize. For Jesus-followers, a life devoted to him is the only way to go. But when it comes to sharing our faith and telling others that Jesus died for our sins and we have salvation through him, we can get kinda quiet. Maybe we get quiet because we don’t think we know enough, or maybe we don’t want to make anyone angry by proclaiming Jesus is Lord. That’s a subject for another day and a different devotion.
At any rate, John the Baptist knew the word of God, and he didn’t seem to mind making anyone angry. (eg, “You brood of vipers!” – Luke 3:7) But not everyone has the fortitude of JTB. Still, a couple of simple ways to evangelize is to be interested in the lives of others and to be vulnerable enough to share a little about your own life.
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is found in the book of Job. Job had lost just about everything, and when his three friends pay him a visit they can tell he’s in a bad way. They didn’t offer him spiritual platitudes or advice, at least not at first. Instead, they came and sat on the ground next to him. Sometimes displaying love as Christ did and following his command to love your neighbor is as simple as being present. Taking an interest in what’s going on in the life of another. Letting them know you’re there for them. They may not realize you’re sharing the love of Christ, but hopefully, as these organic occurrences continue, it will open the door for deeper spiritual conversations.
One of those conversations may center on the fact that Christians aren’t impervious to Job-esque misfortunes. In this world we will have troubles, so don’t be afraid to share your struggles. But most importantly, don’t be afraid to evangelize around the reason for the hope that is in you. You can be a witness to what a life set apart in Christ looks like.
I’m a native of Nashville, Tenn., and growing up there it was common to talk about where you went to church. One day our third-grade class had the day off from school. I was playing with my friend Jenny, and somehow we got on the subject of baptism. When I remarked how I didn’t have a home church and had yet to be baptized, Jenny, wheeled around, looked at me, and said with her heavy Southern drawl, “Robin, you mean you haven’t been saaaaaaved!” – just like that, all long and drawn out.
We talked a little more on the topic, but I wasn’t baptized until nearly a decade later. During that time I do remember being more curious about baptism and faith in general. Jenny’s question rang in my head. I can still hear her voice today. In her own way, Jenny exhorted me to listen to the good news. So my final question to you is this: Is there someone that you should be a Jenny for?
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.