Early in my faith walk the last thing I wanted to do was say the word JESUS to anyone. I figured you could get away with talking about GOD…but, Jesus, no way.
This misguided line of thinking emanated from my spiritual immaturity. I had no relationship with Christ and was not even vaguely familiar with the Word of God. No wonder I didn’t want to say the word Jesus—I didn’t know him.
What a revelation it was to learn later that telling others about Jesus was a mandate.
“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 28:19-20
MY APPROACH
I ask God for the strength to help me identify and respond to the opportunities he places in my life to tell others about him. I remind myself that he wants us to use our spiritual story to touch others for Christ and how we miss those opportunities if we “don’t feel like doing it.”
Blowing up self is the only way we will ever be able to befriend others, shoulder their burdens, and help them just as Jesus did for us. But how can we handle someone else’s burden when we are fixated on and gripping to our negative feelings and moods?
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid to say the word Jesus?
What specific experience or pain have you endured that God could use to help someone else?
