Vital signs- Thursday,August 26th, 2021
Some years ago, two missionaries visited China. While there, they were passing out gospel tracts. They would give each person a handful and encourage them to share the extra with others. After a while, a guard approached them. "Please don’t give them more than one," he stated. One of the missionaries asked, "Is it illegal to have faith?" "No," the guard replied, "but it is illegal to influence others to join with your faith."
A faith that is not shared will become extinct. Christians around the world know this and are willing to suffer even government persecution to share their faith. Thankfully, it’s not illegal to witness here in America. Yet so many of God’s children never tell anyone else how they can receive salvation through Jesus Christ. We have all kinds of reasons—or more accurately, excuses—for why it should be someone else’s job. But God has given you people whom you can reach more effectively than anyone else.
When Paul wrote to Timothy shortly before he died, he emphasized the importance of the preached Word. This is a message not only to pastors to be faithful as they stand in pulpits, but also to believers to be faithful as they share the message of salvation with everyone they can.
God has given to us the "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18), which means that we have the privilege and obligation to share our faith so others can join us in the family of God. Are you regularly sharing the Good News of salvation with others? Of all the ministries to which we should be faithful, the ministry of reconciliation is the most important!
Every believer is called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 NLT