Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always to the very end of the age.
Welcome back to another inspirational moment from historical Christian romance novels.
I don’t know about you, but those verses both inspire and intimidate me. We are to further God’s kingdom by sharing Jesus with others. However, it doesn’t stop there. We are also to train others up in the way of the Lord and help them grow in their spiritual walk.
The fear of rejection keeps us from sharing Jesus. It is the fear our enemy uses to keep us from furthering God’s kingdom and leading others from death to life. Most days I feel inadequate and unprepared to share Jesus. Yet his first disciples didn’t hold doctorates in theology and were not ordained pastors. They were everyday people like you and me.
In the novel Falling for the Cowgirl (affiliate link), Jericho witness to the criminal he has captured.
"From what I learned in the Good Book, we all have sinned and deserve to die."
(p. 259 Falling for the Cowgirl (affiliate link) by Jody Hedlund)
Jericho was your everyday man with a rocky past, yet he not only accepted Jesus as his savior, but he also shared Jesus with others. Even the most ruthless criminals he was charged with bringing in. Talk about intimidating!
I’ve heard it said that it takes a person, hearing the invitation to accept Jesus as their savior, seven times before they take the leap of faith. Just imagine the person whom fear is holding you back from, could be waiting for that seventh invitation.
I will leave you with this final thought: If we don’t tell others the good news, who will?