Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
When I say the word "evangelist," what's the first thought that comes to your mind? You might think of the person on the street with a megaphone, calling everybody to repent because Jesus is coming back. Or you might think of somebody who hops on a plane, goes to a different country, does crusades, and invites people forward.
What if I told you that if you're a Christian, you're an evangelist?
The Great Commission
In our text today, known as the Great Commission, these are Jesus's last words before He ascended to the Father. If these are His last words, they carry some heavy weight. He says, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." When He says "go," here's what's interesting—the wording there is "as you are going." I love that, because as you and I are going to work, going to a coffee shop, playing ball, wherever it is that you go—as you're going, He says, "preach the Good News to everyone." You're probably thinking, well, I'm not a preacher. In fact, I'm scared to tell people about Jesus. This is not what this is about. When God commands us to do something, He empowers us. This is a command, so whether you feel like preaching the Gospel or not, this is a command to every believer.
Your Life Is a Sermon
Here's the thing—our lives are a sermon. We're always preaching by how we spend our money and time, and how we treat other people. My hope and prayer is that when people look at my life, they can say, the way Val spends his time and money, the way he loves people, the way he gives—there's something about him. I think he loves Jesus. That's my hope and prayer for you too. God has given you your world. When He says go into all the world to preach the Gospel, He's saying go into your world—your neighborhood, your home, your family, your workplace. There are people you're going to impact that I will never impact, because I'm not in your world. The key is being faithful where God has placed us, and those opportunities will eventually come where we share the Gospel.
What Is the Gospel?
Maybe you're watching and thinking, well, I don't even know what the Gospel is. The Gospel is the good news—and to simplify, it's who Jesus is and what He did for us. When you share the Gospel, just tell people about who Jesus is. He lived a perfect life. He died a death that you and I deserved. When Jesus went to the cross, He absorbed the wrath of God that you and I deserved. One of the things I love to do when I share the Gospel—especially on the basketball court—is tell people where I used to be, and then when I met Jesus, where I am now. I tell them that Jesus forgave me of my sins. Because think about this—what is the greatest need of every person? It's not wisdom. It's not money. It's not satisfaction. The greatest need of every single person is to be forgiven of sin. I always tell people, I found that forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and that forgiveness is available to you today. Why? Because everybody is a sinner by birth and by choice. Here's what we have to remember: we don't convert people. We do the sharing, and the results belong to God.
