Telling The One's Closest To You About Jesus Without Pushing Them Away!

Every Christian has either a family member, a friend, co-worker, or an acquaintance who is not a Christian. Sharing the Gospel with others is always difficult. Sharing the Gospel becomes even more difficult when it involves someone with whom you are close. The Bible tells us that some people will be offended at the Gospel (Luke 12:51-53). It is especially troubling to risk offending someone with whom you have frequent contact. However, we are commanded to share the Gospel – there are no excuses for not doing so (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).

So, how can we evangelize our family members, friends, co-workers, and/or acquaintances? The most important thing you can be doing is praying for them. Pray that God would change their hearts and open their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4) to the truth of the Gospel. Pray that God would convince them of His love for them and their need for salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Pray for wisdom in how you can minister to them (James 1:5). In addition to praying, you also need to be living a godly Christian life in front of them, so they can see the change God has made in your own life (1 Peter 3:1-2).

After all of this, you must be willing and bold in your actual sharing of the Gospel. Proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to your friends and family (Romans 10:9-10). Always be prepared to speak of your faith (1 Peter 3:15), doing so with gentleness and respect. Ultimately, we must leave the salvation of our loved ones up to God. It is God's power and grace that saves people, not our efforts. The best and most we can do is pray for them, witness to them, and live the Christian life in front of them!

Ewj2008