SOMEBODY TOLD THEM

Read: Romans 10:14-15

“For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34 (NIV)

What is your reaction when confronted with the Great Commission, which instructs us to: “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all”. (Mark 16:15, MSG). This command often evokes the image of a street evangelist grabbing arms of passersby and inquiring, “Are you saved?” Unfortunately, this is often our conception of evangelism and we react with a shudder and exclaim, “I just can’t do that!” But is this what Jesus had in mind?

The Bible contains numerous accounts of various people calling out to Jesus. (The lepers, Luke 17:12-13; the blind man, Mark 8:22; a blind beggar, Luke 18:35-42; the woman with issue, Matthew 8: 20-22.) Although it is not recorded who told these people about Jesus, obviously someone did or else they would not known to call out to Him. How do today’s people hear of Him? Although many claim that “telling them” is the responsibility of the church, somewhere around 85 percent of all Christians come to Christ through a friend or family member. We are the key to reaching people and as Dwight Moody once observed, “We are the only Bible some people will ever read.” Does this mean we are all condemned to become arm grabbers like the street evangelist? No, but each of us is living examples of what Christ can do and is doing through us. The old maxim,” Actions speak louder than words” is the theme of our Christian witness. The Apostle Paul provides guidance as to what our role might be when he said, “I planted the seed, Apollo watered it, but God made it grow.” (I Corinthians 8:6 (NIV)