A Stanford University professor once challenged me. He said, “Palau, how can you go to country after country where people have so many economic and social problems and preach the resurrected Christ? Can’t you do something more practical for them?”

I told him there isn’t a better way to help them! The people of this world create the problems of this world. And if we can lead people to Christ, positive and practical changes will begin to happen. Do you believe that? It’s true! The Bible says that if you know and follow Jesus Christ, you have the spirit of the living God within you. First John 4:4 states, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” That means that by the grace of God and the presence of His Holy Spirit within you, you are a changed person! And changed people change our world.

It is important to serve the people around us. But nothing makes for lasting change without the Good News of Jesus Christ. So, as you Reach Your World by SHOWING the love of Jesus Christ, remember what’s most important is SHARING the love of Jesus Christ! Tell someone the Good News today.

Are you willing to risk everything for the sake of the Gospel?

Let me tell you a story. There was a great missionary. Once saved, his life was focused solely on reaching the world with the Good News- no matter what the cost. During his ministry, he was stoned, jailed, tortured, shipwrecked, and eventually beheaded. All for the sake of the Good News of Jesus Christ! This is the story of the Apostle Paul- author of much of the New Testament, and passionate evangelist.

Most of us are not called to that place of ultimate sacrifice. So why do we still let fears and insecurities keep us from sharing our faith? Paul had reason to fear for his life, and yet he continued sharing Christ all the more.

In fact, Paul writes in Romans, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Most of us will never encounter the kind of hardship that Paul experienced and yet we’re afraid of something as little as ridicule or rejection.

Today, don’t step back. Don’t back down. Share your faith, regardless of the cost. It’s worth it.

Sometimes in our zeal for sharing the Good News, we forget something.  We forget that ultimately God is in control of everything!  This is not to say that we don’t need to tell people about Jesus, but it might change how we tell them.  I love the quote, “No one ever became a Christian because they lost an argument.”

We are commanded by God to share the Good News with the world.  But ultimately, the results are in God’s control – not ours.  You can make a flawless argument.  But, when it comes down to it, the Holy Spirit still has to change the person’s heart!

Do not use this reliance on God as an excuse to get lazy, however. Instead, find it empowering!  If you know that God is in control, it keeps you humble and gives you courage.  Do your part, and God will use you mightily!  In the book of Romans, Paul writes that, “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.”

Remember to show a lost friend God’s kindness as you share the Good News.  Lovingly share the truth with friends and then rest because God is in control and He knows exactly what He’s doing!

When Jesus hung on the cross for our sins, He cried, “It is finished.” I’ve found that many followers of Jesus are robbed of their joy, because they don’t truly believe that one verse.

If followers of Jesus truly believed that Jesus finished what none of us could, they would live differently.  You know, someone may be very religious, yet not know Jesus at all!  Jesus came to free us from “religion”.  Righteous deeds are a natural outcome of a love for God, but they are not the source of our salvation.

Jesus did all the work so we wouldn’t have to! Sometimes “religion” can be about what we do.  But, faith in Jesus Christ is not about what we do – it’s about what God has done!  Instead of relying on yourself, rely on Jesus Christ.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  Remember that we are all sinful. Nothing we do is good enough for God.  Boast in the Lord Jesus, not in your religious deeds, and you will find true joy, peace and contentment.  Once you understand that you cannot earn the grace of God, you will be equipped to reach your world and share this truth with others!