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Get Involved

An African proverb says, “One hand will never build a house.”

A French proverb says, “Union makes strength.”

The English proverb says, “Two heads are better than one.”

The Bible says, “A rope made of three cords is hard to break” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

These proverbs are true. To build a house, many hands are necessary. The mason cannot do the whole job.

Christ said, “I will build my church.” But He has called us to work with Him in this great task. Each one of us has a part.

Be Obedient

Previously we talked about a wedding ceremony where Jesus turned water into wine. I believe the advice that Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave to the servants should be the motto of every Christian. She said, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).

Unless there is obedience, there can be no personal involvement or success in personal evangelism. It is true that we have been sent throughout the whole world. This is Christ’s command to you and me. What will you answer?

Why did Philip leave a great revival in Samaria to go to the lonely desert? Because the Lord told him to! Because God said it, Philip obeyed (Acts 8:26).

Why did Abraham leave his country, his friends, and his fields for an unknown destination? He did it because the Lord told him to (Genesis 12:1). Why did he take his only son, whom he loved so much, and offer him for God’s purpose? He may not have understood the reason at the time. But because God commanded it, he obeyed (Genesis 22:9-10).

Through the ages, many people have suffered because they obeyed Christ. Some of them have chosen to die rather than to deny Christ. Total obedience to God was their rule.

The Bible compares us to soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3). Christ is our Captain. As soldiers of Christ we owe complete obedience to our Master. If a soldier does not obey his leader, the battle will be lost. Obedience is the key to victory for any army!

Be Like Salt

Before we can really do something for Christ, we must be what He wants us to be. We are to be witnesses. This witnessing is not just doing, but more than anything else it is being. Witnessing is not just our work, but it is our very nature! That is why Jesus said to His disciples, “You are like salt for all mankind” (Matthew 5:13).

Why did Jesus compare us to salt? Salt is used for many purposes. I would like to tell you some of the ways salt is used.

Salt unites people. In Burkina Faso in Africa, salt is used to unite two people, two families, or even two tribes. Before a young man marries, he gives a symbolic gift of salt to the parents of his bride. In this way their union is sealed. In the same way, Jesus has made us salt, so that we will be able to unite people with God.

Salt creates friendship. Salt was one of the first gifts used by white explorers to win the friendship of African chiefs. Sin has made all men enemies of God. We are His salt to bring them back to God.

Jesus has sent us into the world to be peacemakers. If we let people see that we care for their needs, we will be able to share God’s peace with them.

Salt preserves. All over the world, and especially in the developing countries, salt is used to keep meat from rotting. Had not God put salt into the sea, it would not have been possible for men to live on the earth. There would have been too much pollution in the water. Our presence as God’s salt will preserve men and women from sin, as we share Jesus Christ with them.

Salt flavors. When Christ compared us to salt, it was another way of saying that the world is like food without taste. That is very true, for life without Christ, without God, is life without hope. There is no true joy in life for those who do not know Christ. By being salt to the people around us, you and I will help them find new meaning in their lives.

If you live a Christlike life, your being will make others aware of Christ. Your presence may bring a message more important than the one you speak. Salt is found everywhere. There is no country, no home, no family, where salt may not be found. Even so, Christ’s salt reaches all over the world.

Christ wants to make you salt in your family and where you work, so that by your life people will see Christ’s wonderful work in you and glorify God.

Be Responsible

Suppose you saw an automobile accident in which people have been injured. They are groaning and crying for help. What will you do? You could take them to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance. But instead of doing that, you just walk away. What would happen?

Although you did not know them, and you did not cause the accident, you would be breaking a law.

Read what God has said in His Word: Now, mortal man, I am making you a watchman for the nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings I give you. If I announce that an evil man is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, then he will die, still a sinner, and I will hold you responsible for his death. If you do warn an evil man and He doesn’t stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared (Ezekiel 33:7-9).

At times, Christians are not aware of their responsibility, or duty, to other people. You and I each have a definite responsibility. We cannot afford to neglect it. Just think about those around you: in your family, at your work, in public places. How many of them are struggling without Christ. Will you just sit down and let them die? No, a thousand times No! Why not say with Isaiah, “Here am I, Lord, send me.” (See Isaiah 6:8.)

One day Jesus healed and then set free a man who had been bound by the devil. This man lived in a graveyard. After healing him, Jesus told him, “Go back home, and tell what God has done for you” (Luke 8:39). I can imagine this man going from house to house, spreading the good news about the wonderful power of Jesus! Our own people, our own friends, our own community will never hear about the wonderful things of Christ unless we tell them.

The apostle Paul felt this responsibility. Even though he was chosen by God to take the message to the Gentiles, who were not his own people, he did not neglect anyone. Everywhere he went, he took the message to his own people first, and then he went to the Gentiles. In Acts 1:8, I believe Jesus is telling us that we should be witnesses first in Jerusalem (our home), then in all Judea (our country), then in Samaria (our neighboring countries), and finally to the ends of the earth (the whole world). Christ wants to speak to your people. He wants to save them. He wants to write their names in His Book of Life. But He will not do it by Himself. He wants to work with you and through you.

When Paul spoke to the leaders of the church at Ephesus, he said words like these: I have not held back from announcing, from sharing, from proclaiming to you night and day the whole purpose of God. So keep watch over yourselves, and assume the responsibility the Holy Spirit has given you (See Acts 20:27, 28).

In like manner you and I should speak about the message of salvation, thus helping people to make a commitment to Christ. This vital step should not be imposed on anyone. But when someone is searching, seeking, inquiring, and the opportunity is open, it is our responsibility to lead that person to the Savior. Through dialogue, friendship, or conversation, people can be more receptive than “preaching” to them. What verses of Scripture could we use? What are the essential elements?

God loves you and has prepared a way for complete forgiveness of all our wrongs.

BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life…”

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

ADMIT you have sinned and need to repent, which means a change of inward attitude.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Luke 24:46-47 ““This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”

Acts 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…”

CONFESS and choose to not sin.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

Romans 10:9,10 “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with the mouth that you confess and are saved.”

When leading someone to Christ, let us be reminded that every person is different. Some individuals believe or understand sooner than others. Some people share their concerns, questions, and even their doubts. Never be offended by this, but answer with kindness. However, only the Lord by the Holy Spirit and the Word may produce conviction, repentance, understanding, and faith.

Be Committed

Even though the task is great, it has pleased God to use a human tool, a human witness, to spread the good news to all who would believe. Just to know that God wants to use you or me should make us willing to be involved in witnessing about Jesus.

God is not short of workers. Had He wanted to, He could have sent many angels to tell about Christ. And they could have done it overnight. It is true that He sent angels to announce the good news of Christ’s birth to the shepherds. It is true that angels announced the news of Christ’s resurrection that Easter morning. He still may send angels to minister to His people. But He has not chosen them to witness about the Cross. He has chosen you and me, simple, weak human beings, to announce this good news everywhere!

Isn’t it wonderful to know that Almighty God has chosen to depend on us to bring people to Christ? He does not want the unbeliever to die in sin. That itself is good news that is worth talking about! But He needs more feet, more hands, more lips, and more people to share this word of life with those who have not yet found Him.

Christians often say they are looking forward to the time when Christ will come again. Many hymns and choruses have been written about His Second Coming. There are many books on the subject. So often we have even prayed, like the apostle John, “Even so come Lord Jesus!”

We often forget the condition Jesus gave us. He said, “This good news of the kingdom of God will be spread, told, proclaimed everywhere as a witness. Then will the end come” (Matthew 24: 14, paraphrased).

Do you want Him to come quickly? Do you want to be forever with Him? Then, without losing any more time, become involved in spreading the good news. Make a personal commitment to be involved!

When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans about this, he said, “Because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him” (Romans 12:1). The word dedicated means the same thing as the word committed. It means that you have given yourself completely to something. Give yourself completely to spreading the good news about Jesus Christ!