Spreading the Good News
Opening Prayer
Thank you, God, for saving me. Use me in Your kingdom work of bringing others to know You.
Read Romans 1:14–17
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think about a typical day in your life. What opportunities might you have to share the Gospel?Is it always appropriate to share the Gospel? I would answer that with caution. You have to be sensitive to the situation you are in. I cringe now at memories of my madly enthusiastic 20-year- old self, egged on by more extrovert friends, bombarding holiday camp guests with leaflets (in my spare time from my paid job of serving them pots of tea).
Paul doesn’t have any hesitations where the Gospel is concerned. He considers it an obligation to share it with everyone. He is eager (15) and not ashamed (16). His task will not be easy; he needs to be all things to all men. The term “Greeks” (14) would include the Romans in its meaning, synonymous with being cultured and polished.
The Gospel is God’s power that brings salvation to everyone who believes (16). Once we have gotten that into our being, nothing should hold us back from sharing the Good News. We would all say we are not ashamed of the Gospel. But do our lives always mirror that? Realistically we cannot reach everyone around us with the Gospel… but we can have a good try.
Apply
In what loving ways can you show others today that you are not ashamed of the Gospel?
Closing prayer
Ask God to lead you to someone he has his hand upon and is relying on you to share his love with in thought, word and deed.
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