by Kevin Burton
If you know the way, show the way.
This admonition for Christians to share the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, has been said many times and in many ways.
It’s amazing and scandalous that we – I include myself in this – don’t speak up for Jesus more often.
Today we have a word from Alistair Begg, speaker on the Truth For Life ministry, that encourages people of all temperaments and circumstances to do their part.
I am an introvert. Within me lies a heaping helping of that “who asked me?” mentality. But I have for various professional reasons, temporarily put on the uniform of an extravert to do my job. What better reason can there be to climb out of your comfort zone than to help steer a perishing soul to the One who can save him?
“We ought not to court publicity for our virtue or notoriety for our zeal; but at the same time it is a sin to be always seeking to hide what God has bestowed upon us for the good of others,” Begg writes.
“A Christian is not to be a village in a valley, but ‘a city set on a hill’; he is not to be a candle under a bushel, but a candle in a candlestick, giving light to all.”
“Retirement may be lovely in its season, and to hide one’s self is doubtless modest, but the hiding of Christ in us can never be justified, and the keeping back of truth, which is precious to ourselves, is a sin against others and an offense against God.”
“If you have a nervous temperament and a retiring disposition, take care that you do not indulge this trembling propensity, lest you should be useless to the church,” Begg writes. “Seek in the name of Him who was not ashamed of you to do some little violence to your feelings and tell others what Christ has told to you.”
“If you cannot speak with trumpet tongue, use the still small voice. If the pulpit must not be your tribune, if the press may not carry on its wings your words, yet say with Peter and John, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.’”
By Sychar’s well talk to the Samaritan woman, if you cannot preach a sermon on the mountain; utter the praises of Jesus in the house, if not in the temple; in the field, if not in the public square; in your own household, if you cannot in the great family of man,” Bregg writes.
“From the hidden springs within, let sweetly flowing streams of testimony flow forth, giving drink to every passerby. Hide not your talent; trade with it, and you shall bring in good interest to your Lord and Master. To speak for God will be refreshing to ourselves, cheering to saints, useful to sinners, and honoring to the Savior.”
I used to pray some dangerous introvert prayers. If I knew I was taking a Greyhound bus between Columbus and Springfield, Ohio, I would pray, “Lord sit somebody next to me who needs to hear the gospel. Don’t pray that prayer unless you’re ready to talk! God honored that prayer more than once.
Let’s face it, most of us really want to pray, “God don’t let anybody sit next to me at all.” But God’s business is too important to delay, for the sake of my feelings.
God asked Moses to do a job, knowing his limitations in speaking ability before He even asked the question. He knows all about you and your abilities too.
You may be rejected, mocked, shouted down in your efforts to tell the good news. If so you’re in good company. It happened to Jesus too.
Where are you going tomorrow morning Christian, to start your work week? How will you get there? What souls will you encounter along the way?
Is it possible some of them need to ponder eternity, rather than the weather?
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