In days gone by, boys would stand on street corners, waving newspapers, shouting out the recent headlines. Today, we have the unending 24/7 news cycle to inform us of just about everything that might be happening in the world. Before, a newspaper printed daily, a newscast in the evening, and possibly a radio announcement might be the only way to hear the news of the day. Today, we are inundated with more information than we can process and left to try to sort out the news for ourselves – good vs. bad, important vs. unimportant, vital vs. trivial.
It’s no wonder that in a world overwhelmed with news that often, the message of Jesus gets lost.
What separates followers of Jesus from the rest of the world and separates the church from other organizations is our mission -engaging with the poor and lost in our world and pointing them to God. It is social justice, but so much more.
I wonder if sometimes if the message doesn’t get lost because we have forgotten (or possibly never learned) how to share it. We package it as a presentation. We see people as projects on which to work. We work on our sales techniques.
To reclaim our evangelical heritage, we need to look no further than our perfect model, Jesus Christ. To share his message, he came and lived among those who wished to tell. He traveled with them, ate with them, and taught them. He lived in relationship with them. And it was in this relationship that he was able to tell them all that he had been sent to do: “to proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, set the oppressed free and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
As citizens of the Kingdom of God and representatives of Jesus in the world, we have the privilege of continuing his work by continuing to proclaim this good news. And we don’t have to do it alone. God has given us a community of faith to encourage us when we get discouraged or afraid.
In times gone by, it might have been seen as the traveling evangelist’s duty or the local pastor’s job to do this. But who is better situated and equipped to share with those in your circle of influence just what Jesus means and has done for you? (And in case you are wondering, the answer is YOU!)
Today’s Journal Reflections
- What encourages you to be able to talk with someone about your faith? What holds you back?
- Read Romans 10:13-15, “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” (10:13-15). Who is God calling you to in your life to become more open with about your faith?
- Pray today, asking God to provide opportunities for you to talk about your faith in Jesus with this person.
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