Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC

Mark 16:15
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

I remember when I was playing football in high school, every offseason the coaches gave the team a “charge” to hold onto through the duration of the time. Usually the charge was a catchy phrase of some kind, which had the intent of motivating and inspiring us to practice well. What was interesting to me was that each of these “charges” were not mere suggestions given to us by the coaches, but law. Whether the charge was to give 100% in every activity, or start fast/finish strong, there was no choice as a football player. That was the command. If we slacked, we ran. If we disobeyed, we’d do forward rolls across the football field. The emphasis in all of that was for the coaches to get into our mind that these phrases that they were giving us to abide by was not a suggestion but a command.

In the same way, there are many christians who sadly hold to this believe that sharing the good news about Christ is just a mere suggestion and nothing more. They may see it as a cool idea that the preacher or deacons take part in, or something only for the spiritually-elite Christian. That just isn’t true at all. All of us who know Jesus and have a relationship with Him are called to share the gospel of Jesus. That is what Mark is telling us here in Mark 16:15. Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to His disciples. In the midst of their conversation He tells them to go and proclaim the gospel to all the world. The word proclaim there in the original language signifies a command. The call to share the good news of Jesus is not just a suggestion, but a command.

The question is, how do we do that? I mean, there are a good bit of of people in the world! You may be asking how you get started. Well there are two ways in which we can start:

  1. Go to your Neighbors- Do you know your neighbors? Do you know your co-workers? The first step is being willing to step in and engage in a conversation with them. There are people right across your street, right across your cubicle, who are desperately searching for hope, and you have the answer: Jesus Christ. So step out, walk across the street/workspace and strike up a conversation and befriend that neighbor/co-worker, and pray that the Lord gives you an open door to share the Gospel with them.
  2. Go to the Nations- Invest in missions around the world. There are many people all around the world who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus. Go on one of our Mission trips we have this year through Living Hope and share the hope of Jesus with them. 

In 2020, will you choose to answer the charge Jesus has given us to share the Gospel? My hope and prayer this year is that we would be a people who are bold enough to step out and share the Gospel with the lost, trusting that God will work in hearts and that people will respond by placing their faith and trust in Jesus. 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, give me boldness to answer the charge to share my faith. Give me strength to step out and share the greatness news to those who are searching for it. May 2020 be a year where I answer the charge to share my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.