At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:3-5
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
I’m currently training to be a discipleship coach. Part of coaching new believers is to help them write their testimony or story about how their belief in Jesus as their Savior has changed them. It’s that portion of our testimony that brings a commonality to a conversation with a non-believer and provides a bridge to the Gospel.
So many Christians seem to think “sharing the Gospel” is taking a stranger by the hand, looking them earnestly in the eye, and then, like the church lady on Saturday Night Live, asking, “Do you know Jesus?” No, the Gospel is shared every time you tell your friend, family member or yes, even a stranger, how you too struggle with a problem in life and how you rely on the strength of your faith to get you through it. How you know, even when you have sinned, you are loved and seen and forgiven.
People can debate you all they want on scripture but you sharing your faith in Jesus can’t be disputed. And I have found it’s rarely even scoffed at when shared gently, with honesty, and most of all out of love.
The love of God, which I share with those willing to listen, is what has set me free from guilt and shame. It has set me free from constantly grasping at being “a good person” – not really knowing how to do that or what that person should look like. Resting in the love, strength and wisdom of God, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and the teaching and mercy of Jesus, I am free, free indeed.
Where would I be, where would any of us be, without that type of freedom? We would be mired in our past anxiety, worries, fears, shame, and sinful desires.
Hallelujah to God who loves us so!
emboldened.net 