One of my life’s greatest regrets occurred when I was a new Christian. I was training for my first year as a college baseball player when the bike I was training on broke down. I knew my dad’s cousin could fix it, so I took it to him.
As we were working in the garage, I noticed his breathing grew abnormally heavy. I thought, “I need to share Jesus with him. I don’t know how much longer he will live.”
I was scared, though, because I had received much persecution from my family over my newfound faith. Since I knew he probably wouldn’t be supportive of my Christian walk, I remained quiet. My heart broke the next morning, when I received the news that he had died in the night.
Dwight L. Moody once said, “No man can resolve himself into heaven.” That experience brought me to this realization—that heaven is real, salvation is a gift, and my role is vital in helping my loved ones experience both.
It’s why Paul wrote in Romans 10:13-14, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”
Statistics prove that “someone” is likely not your pastor, a televangelist, or a tract. It’s you. Why? Because Lifeway Research says that about 45 percent of those religiously unaffiliated are not open to talking with a stranger about their faith. Various other studies also report that nearly 85 percent of people who come to faith in Christ do so through the influence of a family member or friend.
Your influence matters, friend. More than you may realize. It’s why Jesus gave the Great Commission to all of us. He called us all to go into all the world and make disciples of Him. In Acts 1:3-8, we discover what we need to witness well to those we love.
First, we need emboldened. John 20:19 tells us how that when Jesus found the disciples, they were far from bold: “…when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’”
Jesus spent time with the disciples to embolden them, to give them courage to carry out His call. We, too, become emboldened when we intentionally spend time in God’s presence.
Verses 4-8 prove we also need empowered by the Holy Spirit. Here, Jesus encourages the disciples to live conscious of the Holy Spirit, to receive His counsel, and to live each day covered in His presence.
Friend, God wants to use you to start a movement for His kingdom in your life, in your family, and in your world. Give God your yes, and stand in awe at the impact your life will make!
