{Prayer}

            This coming Saturday marks the final day of the Red Letter Challenge. For 40 days, we have intentionally put the words of Jesus, those red words in our Bibles, into practice. Through this challenge we’ve focused on five main targets. These five main targets again are … Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.

            For many, this last target of Going is the most challenging of the five. Over the past few weeks, we’ve learned to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Last week, we looked at what it means to give God our hearts, our entire selves, including our finances, all while recognizing that where your treasure is, there your hearts is also (Matthew 6:21). Now, having given Him our hands and feet, and having surrendered our heart, now we give Him our mouth.

            St. Francis of Assisi is famously quoted as saying, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words.” While this statement underscores the importance of our actions lining up with our faith, it should never be used to suggest that speaking the Gospel is optional. St. Francis was not advocating for some sort of silent evangelism but rather encouraging believers, encouraging you and me to live our lives in a way that matches with our message. Both our actions and our words matter.

            In fact, that’s exactly what Peter says in 1 Peter 4. “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (4:11).

            We are called to serve and show Christ’s love through our actions, but we are also called to proclaim His truth with our words. Both are important and both are necessary.

            As we dig into Jesus’ words, into the red-letter words … it’s fascinating to see how Jesus’ ministry begins and ends.       In Matthew 4, after His baptism, Jesus begins His public ministry with these words, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (4:17). He immediately follows this up with an invitation, “Come, follow me” (4:19). From the very start of His ministry, Jesus calls people into a life of discipleship. And He does so with a clear purpose … to lead others to Him.

            Likewise, Jesus’ final words in each Gospel reinforce this mission, this going.

• Matthew 28:19-20, which we commonly call the Great Commission, Jesus says, “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.”
• Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
• Luke 24:47, Jesus says, “and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
• John 20:21, Jesus says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
• Acts 1:8. And then Jesus’ very last words before His ascension, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

            Jesus’ purpose was to make disciples who would then go out and make more disciples. A life spent being with Jesus naturally leads to going with Jesus. You cannot truly follow Christ and stay put. He leads us outward and onward to influence, to serve, and to proclaim His message.

            And for many, sharing the Gospel seems like a daunting task. And here’s why it feels daunting … we overcomplicate it and put too much pressure on ourselves. We think we need to have all the answers before we speak about Jesus. While it is good to grow in our knowledge and love of Jesus, evangelism, the sharing of the Gospel, isn’t about having perfect theology … it’s about trusting Jesus completely and sharing the difference He has made in our lives.

            Consider this for a minute … a courtroom values eyewitness testimony more than any other type of evidence, even more than scientific proof. And why? Because personal experience carries immense weight. People may argue against science and doctrine, but they cannot argue with your story.

            A man named Kash Register knows this all too well. Yes, that is his real name. Kash was wrongfully convicted of murder in California in 1979 and spent 34 years in prison before being exonerated in 2013. His release came after new evidence surfaced and key witnesses recanted, they withdrew their testimonies, proving his innocence. Kash’s story highlights an essential truth … a person’s testimony can mean the difference between bondage and freedom, even between life and death. If human testimony carries such weight, how much more does our testimony about Jesus impact lives?

            Your testimony about Jesus is powerful. Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that all have fallen short of the glory of God and have sinned. Three chapters later in Romans 6:23, it reminds us that “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Without Christ, every single person is walking around with a death sentence, every person is walking around with a future sealed by sin and separation from God. But Jesus stepped in as our substitute, taking that sentence upon Himself. He didn’t just commute our sentence … He gave us new life, a new identity, and a new mission. And now, we are sent to share that good news with others who are still carrying that same burden.

            Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over {Satan} by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony!” Jesus has already done the saving work. Our roll in this is to share what He has done in our lives.

            When you truly love something, you can’t help but talk about it. Whether it’s a favorite restaurant, a great movie, or a life-changing experience, you naturally share it with others. How much more, then, should we share the good news of Jesus?

You cannot be with Jesus and stay put. A life spent being with Him naturally leads to going for Him. And the biggest impact you can make for God’s kingdom is by partnering with Jesus and sharing your story.

            Going with Jesus doesn’t require you to be a theologian or a Bible scholar. It simply requires you to be a witness. Share what Christ has done for you. That is the most effective way to lead others to Him. Your story, your story could be the testimony that helps free someone from their sin and lead them to eternal life.

            So will you go? Will you tell them about Jesus? There’s no better time to start that than today. Amen.

            The peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.