So I bring this all up to say, considering that a key part of faith is about stepping outside of one’s comfort zone, what would that look like? In my first year at the Evanston Vineyard, I got a ton of opportunities to practice as a bunch of folks I knew were big into street ministry. That was most definitely outside my comfort zone! But now, with a marriage and a budget and a very well-defined community and cultural expectations that don’t involve talking to strangers, I’m kind of at a loss here. What I have been told is that the music I write can be used as a way to accomplish this objective, and I’ve been writing (with God’s direct inspiration) the music and posting it online. But, unless the music itself punches through the algorithm, how do I know? In a strange way, what comes to mind that is also comforting is this passage from Romans:
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!””Romans 10:13-15 NKJV
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV
The Urgent Call
Have you ever shared the Good News of Jesus with someone in your life?
When Jesus was teaching and training the twelve disciples, he often used imagery and metaphors that were part of their culture to communicate important truths to them. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus relates the work that He is doing to a farmer’s work in the field.
Jesus says that the people who do not know Jesus are like a field of grain that's ready to be harvested. But, there are not enough workers to go and harvest among the fields. Jesus says to pray that God would send more workers to gather the harvest.
Essentially, there are people who are ready and willing to hear and respond to the Gospel message—the hope that Jesus brings for every person. But when Jesus says “the workers are few” (Matthew 9:38), what He really means is: there are not enough people sharing the Good News with others.
As Christians, we are entrusted with the free gift of eternal life, and we’re tasked with sharing that message with others. However, many Christians keep their faith to themselves.
We are to be bold in sharing the message of the cross with other people so that they can experience new life in Jesus, too.
Take a few minutes today to consider what small step you can take to begin sharing Jesus with other people. Pray for God to give you courage, and then step out and begin sharing with others.
Share your faith: Ask God: who are You sending me to today?
Follow-up note from before the devotional: I think asking the above question is the key. It’s OK to not automatically know, but then the solution is to ask God. Just be sure that your heart is truly submitted to Him when you ask, because when He answers, He might give an answer that we may not expect.
Share your faith: Challenge: Talk about Jesus today! God has already been preparing hearts and minds to hear and respond to the Gospel message.
Another follow-up note: the line “God has already been preparing [the] hearts and minds...” That’s a step of faith, trusting that God will take care of the hearts of others. I think we often feel as if it’s our job to convince the person and to change their heart for them. All we can and really need to do is present the evidence, or better yet, a personal experience of how God saved and redeemed us.
Prayer: God, thank You for revealing Your plan of salvation to me! Help me to see the harvest that’s already here. Help me to tell others about your mercy and love. Help me to be the hands and feet of Jesus in my community. And as I serve you, please let the way that I live inspire others to serve You too. In Jesus’s name, Amen.