How Beautiful are the Feet
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:15 ESV
As we moved into the Christmas season, our life group at church decided to dive into David Platt’s study, “Follow Me.” This was an eye opening and convicting study that has really shifted my focus and has me doing a complete re-evaluation of my Christian life.
David Platt challenged my efforts at evangelism – who have I personally led to Christ in the past year? What am I doing now to share the gospel with unreached family, friends and strangers? Did I truly understand that being a disciple of Christ means making disciples of men?
I pondered my many excuses. I really don’t like to talk in front of people, so Facebook witnessing really seemed easier. Looking back through my Facebook feeds, they were filled more with enthusiasm for Sea World than a zeal for Christ. Sure, I write devotions and try to blog (which, by the way, has been a huge failure the last couple of years). However, the ways I “thought” I was witnessing or sharing the gospel, well, I really wasn’t.
After we finished the Follow Me study, it wasn’t just myself that wasn’t happy with the way I was sharing the love of Jesus with others – but my entire class. All of us were convicted and left with wanting more. Prayerfully, our teacher moved us into The Way of the Master where we are going to learn more ideas, techniques and guidance on how to share the gospel effectively.
I’m thankful for the conviction and the realization that I personally need to do more. Sitting on the sidelines isn’t an option for Christians. God has given us a job to do, we are to go and share the gospel. That may not mean for everyone to take a long-term trip to Africa or a remote place where Christians are persecuted for their faith. There is plenty to do right where God has you.
Jesus has called us to be fishers of men. This is the will of God for every believer. If this command were only for the disciples, the gospel would have died out with the death of the disciples. For God’s perfect reasons, He has chosen us as His means to spread the good news of the message of the Gospel of Jesus to the lost people of the world.
I have purposed to refocus my efforts with a few steps.
- Further training in The Way of the Master
- List three people around me who do not know the LORD, purpose to pray for them.
- Ask the Lord to give me wisdom, courage and conviction to share the gospel.
- Pray fervently for their salvation.
2015 is a new year. I am determined to not end 2015 by answering David Platt’s questions with “zero.”
I’ll close with a few Bible verses to ponder. Perhaps we all can join together to share God’s good news with those who are lost. God has given each one of us the Holy Spirit as our counselor and guide. He has already equipped us to be His ambassadors. Let us get busy with and urgent heart to see lost people around us and in the world come to know the saving knowledge of Jesus!
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 ESVWhile walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22 ESV
Great message, Dana. We are called to witness to ones who not know the saving grace of our Heavenly Father. I tried to witness with my daily life to other.