January 16, 2023
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
-Romans 10:13,14
How many of us have taken the Motorcycle Safety Course? Or what about being out on a large group ride? In both cases, whether you have experienced either or not, a lot of information was given to you and you had to process and retain it so that you could pass the safety class, or not get separated and lost in the group ride, whatever the case may be. These instructions were given to you and it was up to you to decide what to do with that information. Did you maybe go into the safety course with a little arrogance about you and felt like there wasn’t anything they could teach you? Maybe you felt like you knew a better route for the group ride. In both of these instances, you probably let the instructions go in one ear and out of the other. Maybe things still ended up going well for you, but it could have had a completely different result. The alternative is that you paid close attention, took each word to heart and did your absolute best to follow the instructions provided, without your pride getting in the way. Granted, things could still have gone wrong, but your humility would allow you to correct the situation and get back on the right track without your ego being so bruised. The point is, if we listen to those who are looking out for us, then we will probably enjoy whatever may follow.
What in the world does any of this have to do with our faith or spreading the Gospel?
Well, I’m glad you asked!
Jesus was well known for using parables in his messages. He used these parables because it was something His audience could understand, a tangible link to the intangible thoughts of Heaven. Only He had any frame of reference to bring to light something that we could never comprehend with our earthly hearts and minds. One of those parables is called the Parable of the Sower and it is found in Matthew chapter 13, verses 3 through 9.
"And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when they sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
-Matthew 13:3-9
I won’t even begin to try to clarify or elaborate on what Jesus offered as an explanation of this parable. The seeds that fell on the path are symbolic of those who hear the Gospel but have no understanding of what they have heard and it ends up being cast aside. The seeds on the rocky ground are those who immediately find themselves filled with joy at the revelation of the Gospel, but don’t let it take root in their hearts and then it is forgotten again. The third scenario is the seed among the thorns, again the Gospel is heard, but is ultimately choked out by the desires of the world. Finally, there is the seed that falls on the good soil, the Gospel is heard, it takes root and the person experiences the joy and gift of true salvation, but it doesn’t stop there because Jesus said it will produce “some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” That means that, as a result of this gift of grace and salvation, the Gospel continues to be shared and spread throughout the world. The Great Commission is fulfilled when we do our part to share the Gospel.
So what about this “soil” that Jesus is talking about? How do we know who is ready to have this Gospel seed planted? That seems like a big task, making that determination. What are the signs we should look for before we share the Gospel with someone else? Well, here’s a bit of news that will take the pressure off of you, you don’t have to decide! We are merely the seed planters, God is the gardener who will prepare and work the soil. Our task is simple: share the Gospel and live out the Gospel, nothing less, nothing more. We cannot change the hearts of those we encounter, only God can do that. We share the Good News, share our testimony, and then step aside and let God do what only He can do.
Does this mean that sharing the Gospel is merely a numbers game? We tell everyone we can and hope for the best? Well, yes and no. We are commanded to make disciples, so that does require sharing the Gospel with everyone we can, but we can’t just leave it at that. We need to pray for these people and we need to demonstrate love for them, true genuine love. Sharing the Gospel isn’t just about sharing and then forgetting. In addition to reaching as many people as we can, we must also ensure that our efforts exhibit genuine quality through our love for our fellow man. Some people will be easier to love than others, I will admit that, some will laugh in your face and may even be exceptionally defensive or may even verbally attack you. These difficult situations provide us with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate what genuine love truly looks like to people who may be unfamiliar with such a concept.
God has provided us with the directions. They are right there in black and white. Our role is to take these instructions to heart, follow them, and refresh ourselves daily on what they tell us to do. God will be faithful and he will use us to His glory. Something that seems so complex, yet it really is easier than we imagine. Share the Gospel today if you are already saved by grace through faith. If you don’t yet know Jesus Christ, then seek Him with all your heart and invite someone to sit down with you and share His amazing grace with you.
