Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
~ Proverbs 29:25
How often do we let our fear of other people hinder our lives? This manifests in many ways and situations, but the one I most want to bring to light today is in regards to us sharing the Gospel.
How many of us are guilty of wanting to mention Jesus in a conversation, or at an event….. but we’re afraid of being judged, or ridiculed, or of offending someone. So we say nothing.
I think we’ve all been there at some point in our lives: On the receiving end of comments like: “You believe in fairy tales”, “There is no God”, “You’re delusional and live in a fantasy world”. I admit, it’s not much fun. And any time I want to say something, or am convicted to bring up the Lord to someone, I’m faced with this momentary feeling of, “Should I…?”
I say “momentary” because the answer is YES, you should!! And as I get older and better understand the importance of what comes after death, I recognize this fear of what other people might think for exactly what it is: Just the miserable old Devil trying to keep me from doing my job: Sharing the Lord’s Word that brings salvation.
There’s a way to do things, and a way not to do things though. Offer the Truth in an attitude of Love. Treat others the way you would like to be treated, regardless of how they’re treating you. Point TO Jesus, not AT sin. If you have to be nasty or cruel to someone while sharing the Gospel, then you don’t understand the Gospel and have no business preaching whatever it is you “think” the Gospel is. Remember: Point TO Jesus, not AT sin.
The Gospel: Jesus is the Lord God Almighty, Father Truth, filled with His Spirit which is Love, manifest in His One and Only begotten Form, Jesus. Jesus is Truth and Love in flesh, the Messiah = Jesus the Christ. Remember, Christ is not a last name, it means Messiah, which in the Old Testament was to be God Himself in flesh. Jesus is not a man, nor is He the offspring of God; He is nothing created, He is the Creator. And love one another.
Instead of picking away at other people because of their sin, try pointing them towards the One who can deliver them from it, forgive them in spite of it, and save their eternal souls. We are ALL sinners, none worse or better than another. Remember that it says in the Bible that if you hate a man in your heart, you’ve murdered him. (1 John 3:15) While most of us have never picked up a knife and stabbed someone, how many of us have hated somebody, even if it was just for a moment? It takes but a moment to drive a knife into someone’s chest too. The outcome remains the same.
So don’t let your fear of what other people think hinder your work in sharing the Gospel. It’s not always easy, but part of loving your neighbour is telling them the Truth: Jesus is Lord. 70, even 100 years in this mortal existence is like a single grain of sand on an enormous beach compared to eternity. So let’s all try to be less concerned with our flesh, and more concerned with our souls.