Sharing is Caring. I laugh when someone says that phrase sarcastically as a joke. Yet, there is truth in that statement, especially when you apply it to the biblical truth that we are all as followers, called to share the Gospel of Christ around the world. We are to take it all the way to the Amazon in Brazil, and back to the house directly behind your very own home. I believe everyone who is a true follower should be able to share the gospel. Now there are some people who I believe have more of a passion than others to go and share the gospel, maybe even label it as a spiritual gift of specifically sharing Christ with others. Yet, we are all suppose to share. But. Can we share without the care? Can we share the Gospel of Christ without truly caring/loving others?
Sharing Christ to others has to start with a love for God, and through Him a love for the lost. See the caring part of sharing is the hardest. We are from birth a slave to our sinful nature, and caring/loving for others as Christ calls us to do is naturally against our makeup. Anyone can share information to someone about anything. Besides getting beyond the nerves of talking to others, sharing the gospel story to others would be fairly easy for those who know it well. Yet, if you are not sharing God's love as well, or if they can't see true joy in you, what would make anyone want to believe, let alone listen to what we have to say. I love the example used over again in the bible that we are to be a light in the darkness just as Jesus was the light. People are drawn to light....Especially if it is dark. The world can be such a dark place. We as followers of Christ should be a radiant light of hope to the lost. We should look different, act different, be approachable, and known for loving others no matter the circumstances. Sharing the Gospel doesn't start with telling the story, it starts with sharing the love of God. You have to meet the lost where they are. Befriend the gay man, give shelter to the homeless, forgive the drunk driver, tell the prostitute she is worth more. In your everyday life, be a light in the darkness. Give the boss the respect you might not think he deserves, be humble, be approachable, do things the right way at all cost, love your children and raise them up in the knowledge of Christ, love your spouse with a unwavering love, and be a man of integrity in your community not to raise your status, but to promote Christ. This....this is how you start to share the gospel, you have to CARE. We used to have a conference when I was in youth called Dare2Share, this is kind of like Dare2Care. Dare to love the lost. Dare to think about others. In our missions committee at church, one of the biggest things we spend time on is putting the lost people of the world in front of our congregation to create awareness. Then you challenge the followers to respond. Dare them to Care. Sharing is Caring. You will never be able to effectively experience the true blessing of sharing Christ with others without Christ's love. We are proclaiming a personal relationship with Jesus, that involves us being personable. As John Mark McMillian says, "You can't hold on to love." Love is essential for sharing the gospel. We don't' have it naturally, but we can ask God for the love to grow in us for the lost. Ask God for a passion to share His love with others, which develops a passion to share His gospel. They go hand in hand. You can't truly love someone without wanting them to know that Christ saves, and that he conquered sin and death. For those who have faith and choose to follow him, he has raised up over the chains of sin, he has paid their penalty of death, and provided us with a path to the Father. This is great news! I can't think of any better news to share with those we care about, and again as Christians we are to care about the lost. Ask God for a heart for the lost, and passion for spreading the gospel of Christ. Sharing is Caring!
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew5:16
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