Building Block #7: Sharing Your Faith

When a new Baby is born, or we get an unexpected gift in the mail, or start a different and challenging job, or purchase a new car or home: It is easy to get excited! We want to tell everyone (even strangers) about the wonderful event we have experienced.

But isn't it interesting? When it comes to the Greatest Gift of All: Our Eternal Salvation through the Death & Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ: We sometimes choose to be silent.

Some excuse their reluctance to speak with a plea of ignorance: "I don't know enough to share." Others say, "Faith is a private matter." Or they expect people to be uninterested or even resistant to what they have to say. The Enemy doesn't care WHY we are silent: he just wants us to keep the Best News we have ever received to ourselves!

In the Book of Acts, Peter and John were threatened with beatings if they didn't stop talking about Jesus. But they responded, "We can't help but speak about the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:17-20). John later wrote, "That which was from the beginning, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life....that which we have seen and heard we declare to you." (I John1:1-3) He was talking about his friend Jesus!

These men were sharing what they had seen, heard and experienced regarding our Lord. It was not a story to them. It was truth, and it was personal. They were "witnesses".

They were sharing what they knew about Him to others who did not know. Is it possible that we haven't had a truly life-changing experience with this Jesus? Are we more worried about making sure we can answer every potential question than we are about telling His Story? Does the unknown reaction of our listeners keep us from talking about the One who saved us and calls us His friends?

The early disciples were not only rejected but persecuted. Their prayer in Acts 4:23-31 is something to read and ponder! Instead of fearing the attacks of others, they prayed for more boldness to share their faith. It is challenging and convicting to read about what they suffered and what they accomplished as the Church was birthed in Jerusalem by the Holy Spirit.

The Church of today will not grow and spread as God desires unless we are willing to share the great Truth about our Savior. We must be empowered by His Holy Spirit if we are to make an impact in this dark and often dreary world.

Is Jesus truly as wonderful and amazing as we claim? Is He the Most Important Person that we've ever met? Is He the Center of our Lives and the Hope of our Future? Are we willing to share His Truth, His Story with others we know (and even those we don't)? If not, why not?