Something about presenting the Gospel message to others can make us feel uneasy at times. We can feel like we’re in a hostile environment where no one wants to hear the truth. But there are people that want to hear it. Sometimes it may require breaking down an initial barrier to get through to them. But other times when we can see that we’re not getting anywhere, and face nothing but hostility, it’s best to just pick up our things and move on.
Proverbs 16:25: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.” The difficult thing about truth is that it may not always seem like truth to the people you present it to. Of course, they’re judging right and wrong according to their own sense of justice. They think to themselves, “Well, that just doesn’t seem right.” But what appears to be right to them isn’t always what is. We have to judge things according to God’s standard and not our own.
Matthew 10:14: “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Jesus wants us to present the Gospel message to other people, but that didn’t mean He wanted us to spin our wheels in presenting it to people who have no interest in hearing it. This ends up being counter-productive. It leaves you in a tense environment with that other individual and it causes them to put up even more walls. This can also hurt your witness as an example to that other person. But if you present it in a positive way and just let them dwell on it, with the advantage of prayer and time, God can work on their hearts to where they might be open to it later on.
Ephesians 4:15: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:” The important thing about our speech is that love should undergird it, and it’s especially true when presenting the Gospel. The Gospel message centers on the idea of love, so when we don’t present it in love we’re kind of undermining the message. But speaking the truth in love is meant to be edifying and for building up the body of believers known as the Church.
1 Peter 3:15: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” Having an answer ready when someone asks us what we have to be so hopeful about is of prime importance. We never know when someone might notice the light of God shining through us. This provides a great opportunity for us to tell them what it’s all about. Especially when they ask—it gives us the freedom to let it all out and flood them with the truth. That’s your opportunity to be that light the Bible talks about.
2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Our exchanges with people can vary. One time it can be a rather easygoing give and take between two people exchanging ideas. Another time it could develop into a robust and lively debate. The thing to remember is that we always display a Christ-like example. But sometimes it can be necessary to get in someone’s face to get their attention. Sometimes the situation demands it. We can extend an olive branch to people, but we can’t do it at the expense of true doctrine—the truth. Even if we might lack the appearance of right, we can rest in knowing we did right.
Proverbs 16:25: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.”
Matthew 10:14: “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”
Ephesians 4:15: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:”
1 Peter 3:15: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”