"Tell It Like It Is"
When [the shepherd] had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:17-18
“But I wouldn’t know what to say!” is a common excuse for not sharing our faith. This implies that if we had sufficient knowledge or skills, if we knew the right theological terms or could instantly quote Bible passages, then we could do a better job of testifying about our faith.
But the message of the angel was simple: “Unto you is born a Saviour.” Although these words say a great deal about the one who lay in Bethlehem’s manger, they do not provide a crash course in Christian doctrine or evangelistic techniques. The shepherds did not respond by saying, “Okay, now we know what to say and how to say it.” In fact, the message may not have made much sense to them.
But what they heard was enough. They didn’t have to understand it all. They didn’t have to rehearse their speech and anticipate their response to objections. They just had to say what they had heard with their own ears and seen with their own eyes. The simplicity of their actions can be an example to us. Our clever arguments will meet counter-arguments, but the simple testimony of our own convictions can be the seed which the Holy Spirit uses to convince and convert those who hear it.
Prayer: Teach us, Lord, to trust in the power of Your Word, rather than in our own efforts to persuade others. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Consider how you can share your faith-strengthening experiences with those who are still skeptical.
Rev. Dr. Edwin Lehman
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 7-9 Matthew 3
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