Our Daily Bread for 1 March 2022 – A friendly conversation
[Pray for me, too] as I boldly share the secret of his good news. [Ephesians 6:19]
Catherine and I were good friends at school. We talked on the phone almost every day and planned in class who would stay with whom. Sometimes we rode horses together and worked on school projects together.
On a Sunday afternoon I thought about Katharina. My pastor had spoken about how to get eternal life in the sermon, and I knew my friend didn’t believe the teachings of the Bible like I did. I felt an urge to call her and explain how she could have a relationship with Jesus. However, I hesitated because I was afraid that she would reject what I said and distance herself from me.
It is probably precisely this fear that keeps many of us silent. Even the apostle Paul has to ask people to pray for him to “be bold in sharing the mystery of his message” (verse 19). There is no avoiding the risk involved in sharing the good news. Yet Paul says he is “a messenger” – one who speaks in the name of God (verse 20). So are we. When people reject our message, they also reject the one who sent the message. God feels the pain with us.
So what makes us open our mouths? We care for people as God does (2 Peter 3:9). That’s what made me finally call Katharina. Amazingly, she didn’t turn me off. she listened. She asked questions. She asked Jesus for forgiveness of her sins and chose to live for him. The risk was worth the reward.
Who could you talk to about faith today? What’s stopping you? What effect would prayer have on this situation? Dear father, give me the courage to approach people who don’t know you. Give me wisdom to know when and how to start a conversation about you.
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