Wisdom Matters

We will probably always remember seeing the videos on the evening news showing people in hundreds of cars, in multiple lines, waiting to receive the COVID vaccine. The vaccine was debated but is now widely accepted.

That is true of most vaccines we have taken. If we can avoid a serious illness, especially an illness that could cause death, we accept the vaccine.

My grandson was diagnosed with leukemia and the months that followed were filled with long hospitalizations so he could receive chemo treatments. No parent would ever wish for those moments, but when medicine can save a life the treatments are still seen as a blessing. Even the side effects are a reminder that the medicine is at work to kill a disease.

We don’t like to think about the possibility of someone we love needing a lifesaving treatment. We also don’t like to think about the fact that every person, regardless of the medicines of this world, will one day come to the end of life.

If we had a vaccine or treatment that would save the life of someone, wouldn’t we encourage them to take it?

John wrote that “all who did receive” Jesus, those who “believed in his name,” were given the “right to become children of God.” How can we keep our faith to ourselves? How can we not do and say everything we can to share the gospel with others? Our words can help someone become a child of God and live eternally in heaven.

Remaining quiet could keep someone from entering heaven.

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. We aren’t responsible for the free-will choice a person will make about their salvation—that’s between them and God. We are responsible for sharing our faith with the wisdom and leadership of God’s Spirit. We have the cure for so much of what is not right in this world. Imagine if we valued evangelism as we value a life-saving treatment. How would that perspective change our world?

Jesus was the oldest son and would have worked next to Joseph as a carpenter. The region of Nazareth was used for farming, and it is natural to assume that making yokes for the plows was a big part of the woodworking Joseph was asked to do. Jesus was very familiar with the function of a yoke.

Many yokes were for one animal, but the most efficient way to prepare a field for farming was to use two oxen with a double yoke, which is likely the yoke Jesus was referring to in Matthew 11:29–30. Double yokes were usually placed over an older, experienced animal on one side and a stronger, younger ox on the other. The experienced animal knew where to go; the younger animal went along and helped accomplish the work.

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Our personal evangelism is easy when Jesus walks beside us, guiding our words. Some think of evangelism as “hard work,” but if we do that work with Christ then the work is made easy and the burden is light.

If sharing your faith feels like a burden, will you pray for the wisdom to accept the yoke of Christ for the task? Ministry can be time-consuming and a challenge, but it doesn’t have to feel like a burden. Jesus said, “Come to me . . . and I will give you rest.”

Personal evangelism doesn’t have to be hard unless we approach the task without first putting on the yoke of Christ. He effectively said, “Attach your life to mine. I know what to do and will help carry the load.”

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Wisdom is taking the time to pray and receive Christ’s yoke before sharing your faith with others. Jesus knows what a person needs to hear and when and how they need to hear it. Do personal evangelism while beneath the yoke of Christ. You will find rest for your soul when Jesus is walking beside you.

Just before Jesus ascended to the Father, he told his disciples that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit” came to them and they would “be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus literally said that when his disciples received the Spirit they would become, or be transformed into, a witness for Christ. Jesus could say that to all of us who have received his Spirit as well.

Our witness is who we have become through the Spirit of Christ Jesus. That’s why Paul could write, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Christians are born again through the Spirit of God, created for the good works that God has prepared for us to accomplish.

If you have the Holy Spirit at work in your life, you can share your faith with others. In fact, if the Holy Spirit is at work in your life, you will share your faith with others. That is who you have become in Christ Jesus.

But we always have a choice. We can live directed and motivated by our human natures or by the nature of God’s Holy Spirit, his “workmanship” in our lives. God’s plan for us will result in eternal reward and treasure. When we accomplish his good works, we have been obedient to the calling he has planned for our lives. God’s plan is for you to spend this life storing up the treasure in heaven he so much wants to reward you with eternally.

If God has called you to a task, he will also equip you, through his Spirit, with the ability to fulfill his calling. When God gave you his Spirit, you became a witness for Christ Jesus. You are able to share the gospel because you have been called to that purpose for the sake of Christ.

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Wisdom is fulfilling God’s calling in your life to be the witness you were re-created to be. If you are called, you are equipped.

Our culture insists there are many faith options and that it’s wrong to compare one religion to another. Jesus did not allow his disciples to entertain that way of thinking. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you.” In his first words, he insisted that his followers understand that his teaching was truth and that his words were not open for debate or compromise.

What was the truth Jesus insisted his disciples believe? Jesus told them, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” Jesus wanted everyone to understand that he had been sent by God and the message was the message of eternal salvation for everyone who would believe. Then, Jesus reemphasized his words, saying that the person who believed “does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

Three of the most troubling words in the English language are, “Well, I believe . . . .” So many in our world today favor their own opinions or ideas about Scripture more highly than the words of Christ. Many will say, “Well, I believe . . . ” and proceed to express their understanding or their position on a verse regardless of the historical and theological understandings held by centuries of believers.

Jesus insisted that his disciples understand and believe that his words were truth and that eternal life depended on a person’s acceptance of that truth. Jesus also insisted his disciples understand there would be a time of judgment that would either allow a person to step from death to life or from death to a second death, an eternity apart from God.

Evangelism has waned in American culture, and the culture reflects the fact that people are lacking the truth of the gospel message. Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. We know that “whoever hears” the salvation message of Christ, the gospel, and believes Jesus is their Messiah sent by God will be saved. We need to joyfully share the truth with those in our culture who have chosen to believe their own opinions rather than God’s truth. Jesus insisted we understand there is an eternal purpose for our evangelism.

Sanctification is the process of being made holy. We should be more like Christ today than we were a year ago. One of the markers of a growing, thriving Christian life is the overflow of our spiritual thoughts and words to others, our evangelism.

Paul wrote his letter to Philemon praying that he would be effective in the sharing of his faith. His next words should be the only motivation we need to join the centuries of Christians who knew evangelism was key to their own faith journey.  Paul wrote we share our faith, “for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”

Jesus made certain to tell his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to them after his death. He told them, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me” (John 15:26). Jesus also said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).

Every Christian has been equipped to share their faith because we have been given an effective testimony through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. We should never underestimate what the Holy Spirit can do in our lives if we are willing to share the gospel as the Holy Spirit prompts us.

Paul prayed that Philemon would share his faith, and Paul would pray that same prayer for us today. The most profound words we speak are those that cause others to know Jesus. We should use “every good thing” in us for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. All Christians have effective words to speak through the power of God’s Spirit. Whom will you effectively share your faith with for the sake of Jesus Christ?

One Sunday my husband preached a sermon on the need for all of us to be ready for heaven today. He said none of us can know when our time here on earth is finished. It was a good sermon, and one of our church members picked up a pen and paper that Sunday afternoon to write him a note of gratitude for his words. She mailed that note on Monday morning and died on Monday afternoon. He read her note a couple of days later at her memorial service.

The Lord will return, or return for us, at a moment when we do not expect him. Most of the first-century believers were certain Jesus would return in their lifetime. Some of those early Christian believers began to die, and their deaths raised some questions in the early church that Peter addressed in his letter.

Peter assured them that their faith should remain strong. He also reminded them that Jesus wasn’t slow to fulfill his promise to return but was patient to return because he wanted all people to reach repentance. Jesus told his disciples the week before his death, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Many have speculated about the second coming of Christ, but no one, not even Christ, knows when that time will occur. Jesus’ words to his disciples on the Mount of Olives are interesting in light of today’s technology. Jesus said that when his gospel had been preached to the whole world, the end would come. There has never been a time in human history when that was possible—until now.

The internet has opened up God’s word to anyone who owns a cell phone. The Bible has been translated into almost every language. The entire world might be a constant hot spot in ten or fifteen years because of satellites. Quite possibly, Jesus' words on the Mount of Olives could be fulfilled in our lifetime.

But Jesus didn’t promise that “as soon as” everyone heard he would return. He did say that everyone would hear. Sharing the gospel has always been important, but our urgency has never been greater. Jesus could return soon! Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Is there any reason to wait?

God’s words to the prophet Isaiah would not be considered correct in our culture today. God told the prophet, “Turn to me and be saved,” and his message was truth for “all the ends of the earth.” God said, “I am God, and there is no other.”

The apostle Paul wrote a similar message to Timothy, saying that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

We aren’t wrong to share the knowledge of Christ as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The way Jesus spoke those words about himself does not allow any other possibility. Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only way for someone to have eternal life.

Many in our world consider that message unkind. Sharing God’s truth with a wise and compassionate delivery has become increasingly important. The gospel message can seem unkind so the messenger needs to be above reproach.

We don’t share the truth to argue that we are right and another person is wrong. We share the truth because God is always right and the rest of us are wrong whenever we think or act apart from his truth.

God has an “elect,” those who have been chosen as his children. But the fact we have been elected, or adopted into God’s family, doesn’t change the fact that he still wants others to know him as well.

It is difficult to rejoice over those in our family who walk with God without grieving for those who don’t. God’s will is that “all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Anyone can turn to the Lord and be saved. There is only one God, and there is no other. God has never “rewritten” his first commandment, and the world has never ceased trying to make personal edits to God’s perfect truth. Every temptation is similar to the first. Satan began his temptation with Eve saying, “Did God really say . . . ?” When we doubt God’s word, we open a door to Satan’s suggestions.

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Satan will try to steal our joy and our testimony unless we firmly believe what Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We aren’t “imposing our faith” on anyone by sharing the gospel. There is only one way for people to live eternally in heaven, and people deserve to know that truth.

God has promised to reward our evangelism with eternal treasure. We acknowledge Jesus and all that he has done for our lives when we share his love and his message of salvation with others. Sharing the gospel is a high and honored goal. But Jesus had sobering words for those who hinder the salvation of others.

Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Jesus was telling his disciples that we need to be aligned with his purpose and his priorities or we can do harm in this world.

Many have stopped attending a church because someone failed to show them the acceptance and love of Christ. Many have refused to hear our message because they have seen us fail to practice all we preach. They are wrong to judge the perfection of Jesus because of the imperfection of his saints. Nevertheless, whenever we do not “gather” others to Christ, we run the risk of “scattering” them to the influence of this world.

Many in our culture have labeled our evangelism both socially and politically incorrect. Our words about Christ need to be filled with truth, delivered with wisdom, and filled with a true love and compassion for the person we are speaking to. Our attitude should be one of humble certainty. We need to live with Christ and walk with his purpose if we want to gather others to the family of God.

But, if we don’t “gather,” we will scatter. If we don’t speak up, how will people know? God told Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The work of evangelism has been hindered by our desire not to offend or to cause someone to think of us as arrogant. We cannot be arrogant, but we ought to be confident. We shouldn’t be boastful, but we should be proud of our Lord and our salvation. We shouldn’t be pushy, but we need to stand firm in the truth.

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Wisdom is knowing that sharing the salvation of Christ with others is sharing the same purpose Jesus had for his own life. We either gather or scatter. Don’t allow the influence of this world to rob you of the influence of Christ. People are still “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” People are still saved by hearing and receiving the gospel message of their eternal life in Christ.

We know that one day we will stand before God, with Jesus, and we will be accountable to God for our choices. The Day of Judgment is a reality in Scripture, but we don’t know much about that moment beyond the fact that it will occur. For those who have placed their faith in Christ, we can know with confidence that our sins will be known by God but forgiven because of our faith in the sacrificial gift of God’s Son on the cross.

Jesus was teaching his disciples that they would need to share the message of the new covenant, the message of salvation in Christ, with others. He spoke some amazing words to his disciples that still apply to his disciples today. Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God.” Jesus will stand with us on the Day of Judgment and tell God, and all those angels, “This one knows me, and this one has helped others know me as well.”

That moment in heaven is beyond our ability to comprehend, but it is one we will experience. We see through the glass “dimly” now, but, at that time, we will see our God face-to-face. We will stand with Jesus, so grateful for every time we acknowledged our faith in Christ and spoke of his redeeming work in our lives. We will meet those people who were impacted by our words and actions, seeds of faith that eventually took root. We will hear Jesus say, “We know you, and you belong with us.”

There are rewards on earth for sharing our faith with others. Joy is helping people pray to receive Jesus as their Lord. It is the greatest joy we can have to help people understand they have received the promise of eternal life in heaven and can live with that assurance all of their days on earth.

But nothing on earth will compare with the joy we will feel when we stand before God as the brother or sister of Christ and hear our Lord acknowledge us to the Father saying, “This one acknowledged me to others and did the work of a disciple.” Imagine hearing the God of the universe say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Evangelism is our high calling now and one day will be our great reward.

Lifestyle evangelism is living our faith through our actions but also through our words. People should see Jesus in our lives because of our choices and the character of Christ we choose to emulate.

Feeling uncertain when we want to talk to someone about their faith in Christ is good. Everyone is different and will have a unique path to their salvation. Just because some words worked well with one person doesn’t mean those words will be what everyone needs to hear. The reason we should feel uncertain is because that is how the Lord wants us to feel. Our uncertainty reminds us to pray. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to control and author our thoughts and words.

God told Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Uncertainty is how we should feel if we haven’t yet prayed and yielded our thoughts to the higher thoughts of God.

However, feeling uncertain about our words can’t be an excuse to avoid speaking God’s truth. We are God’s “workmanship,” and we have been reborn as a disciple of Christ. Our ability isn’t our own; it is the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Peter and John didn’t heal the lame man at the gate called Beautiful; that was the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The disciples’ words didn’t save thousands after Pentecost; those were the words preached in different languages through the Holy Spirit, who had filled those disciples.

When we need to share the words of Christ with a person, we need to submit our thoughts to Christ and ask him to author our words through his Holy Spirit. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). People aren’t led to Christ because of our words; they are led to Christ because of his words—the words of Scripture that we have learned and are now called and gifted to speak.

Anyone willing to learn God’s word and learn to yield their thoughts to the Lord’s can share the message of Christ. We just need to allow the uncertainties we feel to remind us to lean on God for our message.

Wisdom is joyfully sharing Christ with others. Evangelism is simply speaking the wisdom of Christ with others as Christ leads us. The Holy Spirit’s power and ability are just a prayer away.