Whoever Wishes to Save His Life
Read Mark 8:34-38
This week we have been looking at what it means to reach out to our neighbors with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We hear stories of people today who willing risk their lives as they bring the message of Christ to others around the world. (Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 118:6-7) They stand in harm’s way as much as any soldier in any military conflict.
Yet we who live in safety and affluence often do not even know who our neighbors are. We do not know anything about their lives, their needs, or their struggles. Why are we so unwilling to make the effort?
Three simple reasons come to mind. One is that we are unwilling to take the time. We have filled our lives with events that are designed to meet our own needs. We focus on our own goals and objectives. We take the position, “I have enough problems of my own.”
A second reason is that we do not really see people as lost or even care. (Luke 10:31-32) We do not fully understand the final state of a person who is lost. We skip over the passages about the wrath of God toward sin and what will happen in the final judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
Finally, often we do not share the Gospel because we are afraid of rejection. We want people to like us. We fear and avoid conflict. We fear that if we say anything to someone, they will be offended and react negatively toward us. We find it easier to think, “You are basically a good person, and I am a good person. Let’s just get along and occasionally wave to each other over the back fence.” We do not want to burst the illusion and speak about anything that might be sensitive. It is easier just to hang out with other Christians who will just love me and not reject me.
As you pray today, search your heart. Consider how many times this past year have you intentionally sought to engage someone in a discussion about their spiritual life. What do you know about your neighbor and their needs? What do they know about you and your relationship with Christ? What have you been able to share with them about the person of Christ?