“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:6-9
Sundays in Guatemala are simultaneously convicting and joyous. Every year we go into the marketplace in the morning, doing evangelism and outreach with the kids from Casa, and attend at least one church service in the evening. Each year, we are always struck at the fearlessness of the children in the town square; how unabashed they are at approaching strangers and asking to share the Gospel. The kids are so fearless, in fact, that I often find myself trying to contain them or slow them down—they’re so comfortable with evangelism that it doesn’t occur to them to wait for the group, or to be mindful of vehicles when crossing the street.
I am deeply convicted watching their boldness. How many times in this one short morning do they share the gospel? They approach the people, and when they face rejection, they shake the dust off their feet and move on to the next one. They don’t stop until it’s time to go. And what do I do? I stand on the sidelines, watching in awe, praying, wondering if I will ever have the same intrepidity. When was the last time I shared the gospel with an unbeliever? When was the last time I pursued the opportunity, instead of “waiting for an open door”? How often do I let fear of rejection keep me quiet, fearing the opinions of man more than the consequences of my disobedience? I am ashamed to admit that in my adult life I have never had the same bravery as they do, even though I’ve been a follower of Christ for over 20 years. I am disappointed in my own shortcomings in the moment, and even more so vexed when I realize that my silence means someone may not get the chance to know Jesus.
Read Luke 5:17-26
Similar to yesterday’s reading, we see Jesus elevating spiritual need over physical need. He didn’t heal the man’s paralysis first, rather, He forgave the man’s sin. This man could have been confined to a bed for his entire earthly life, or confined to hell for all of eternity. Jesus reinforces his power and authority by then healing the man in front of the people, but only after his primary spiritual needs were met. Thanks to the boldness and faith of his friends, the man “picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God” (v. 25).
Whether you are a naturally outspoken person or not, the call and commission of Jesus is clear: go and tell. We are explicitly told to mobilize and verbalize. It’s not optional. Whether you’re sharing with a friend, family member, or stranger, the important thing is that you’re sharing. We have the gift of eternal life, we know how the story ends—why do we keep it to ourselves? And if you find yourself doubting your own abilities, you can look to the Bible for multiple instances where God equipped his people for that which he had called them to. Do you think Joshua was told to “be strong and courageous” no less than four times in Joshua 1 (and twice in Deuteronomy 31!) because he already possessed a naturally brave personality? I would venture to say not. Rather, God commands him to rely on God’s presence and provision in accepting his commission. Let us be strong and courageous and bold and loud as we declare the gospel to the people in our community in the midst of this worldly chaos.
“Someone asked, will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved? It is more a question with me whether we — who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not — can be saved.”
Charles Spurgeon
Photo by Craig Tanner
