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Why Don't You Speak?
When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? A lot of times we're hesitant to speak up because we're afraid of what someone might say or think of us if we do. We don't want to be considered a fanatic or a Jesus freak, or something like that, right? Did you know that it's been estimated that as few as 5-10% of people in the average church share their faith in a given year? That means 90% are remaining silent. 90% of Christians haven't been sharing their faith with people. Some interesting verses are in Ezekiel 33:1-9... 1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. 7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Do these verses not apply to Christians as well? Do they not apply to us when it comes to sharing our faith with the world? We know the consequences of sin. We know that everyone falls short. We know that the only bridge between God and man is Jesus Christ, and we know what happens to those who die without Him. We see people around us everyday who are lost. People are around us everyday who need to hear about Jesus. Strangers, acquaintances, friends, and family. Don't you want your loved ones to know? Don't you want them to escape the fate of those who die in their sin? Jude tells us to reach out our hands and snatch others from the flames of judgement. So, why are we being quiet? There are places in the world where, if you're a Christian and you speak out, it means a life of cruel persecution. Where speaking out literally means being beaten in the streets or even death. There are those of our brethren who literally have to sacrifice everything for the name of Jesus. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of Christians every day that are being martyred in other parts of the world. Here we are afraid someone might laugh at us, or maybe call us a name. Jesus said that if we're ashamed of Him, then He will be ashamed of us in front of the Father. Every day is uncertain. We never know when we might not have another chance to share Him with someone. We never know when it's our last chance to share Him at all with someone. This doesn't mean that you have to go to people and bring them to repentance on the spot, but just give them something to think about. The Holy Spirit takes care of the rest. Then, even if they still refuse to believe, even if they refuse everything that you've told them, you've at least done your part. Like the watchman of Israel, you let them know. You sounded the alarm and were obedient. All Jesus ever asks of us is that we are obedient to Him. |