When Did I Last Speak to Someone About My Faith?

Read Matthew 28:19-20.

It's the last thing Jesus told us to do: "Go and make disciples of all nations..." While the verb in the verse (and hence the center of the action) is "make disciples," we can't do that by just sitting still and keeping our faith to ourselves. We have to go. We have to tell. We have to speak. We have to share.

I recognize I am privileged in that I get to talk about my faith every week, sometimes every day. What I have to guard against is only speaking to other Christians about my faith. My job, after all, is all about equipping the saints (Ephesians 4:11-13) so it's very easy to surround myself only with other believers. I have to make an effort, each and every week, to get beyond that bubble and share my faith in word and deed with those around me who don't yet know Jesus.

But this question specifically asks about "speaking" to someone about my faith. I remember years ago being in a conversation with someone and talking about how we share our faith through our actions. (Much of what we did last week in St. Louis was about that.) She looked at me and said, quite rightly, "But there has to come a time when we speak about our faith. Otherwise, they may think we are just 'good' people." She's right. We can't make disciples through our actions alone; we have to speak.

One of the coolest happenings on the mission trip last week was two of our youngest sharing about Jesus with a 5-year-old. One of the boys said, "It's really hard!" But he didn't quit. These two young boys (young men!) shared their faith and what they believe to be true about Jesus: that he is their savior, Lord and friend. Both of them were beaming that evening because there is something both terrifying and uplifting about speaking about your faith.

This question is a reminder to daily look for opportunities to speak about your faith. Not obnoxiously, not cruelly, but with respect and gentleness (1 Peter 3:15-16). Speak to others the way you would want to be spoken to (Matthew 7:12). I can change the world one heart at a time...by speaking about my faith. So can you.

It's the last thing Jesus told us to do. So maybe we ought to do it.