By Jacquie Wagner
Introduction
1 John 4:19 — We love because He first loved us.
John 15:12
—
“This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved
you.”
1 John 3:23 — This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
Mark 16:15 — And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1
Not Optional
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ we are not our own, no not at all!
And we know this, in our heads at least, if we’ve read Scripture and/or
heard good sermons. Yet this truth absolutely runs counter to the wants and
will of our flesh. Our Selves, from Eden onward, “naturally” have sought to
and wanted to be like god, to be the “god” of our own lives, in
charge of who we are and what we do. Certainly here in America, the reality
for the child of God that we are not our own is completely opposite to and
even in opposition to the way we are raised and live as a culture. American
“independence” has been the banner of our national culture from the very
beginning. So the idea, and in our case the very reality of being
not “our own”, is utterly foreign and alien to nearly every aspect and
facet of our lives—our upbringing, our schooling, and the flow of our daily
lives. Especially now, as we have become the “Burger King-microwave”
society wherein we can “have it our way” instantly.
1 Scripture quoted from the New American Standard Version of the Holy Bible (La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1995).
So, having, as Americans, a master, a lord, someone who to whom we owe obedience, in the very least—and as the children of God, Someone to Whom we owe our very lives and to Whom we should look for direction in all parts of our lives, Someone to Whom we belong utterly, completely, and entirely—is not an easy or ready ideal or way of living for most of us. All of this to say, commands from the Word of God, don’tactually work themselves out in our daily lives as direct orders. As children of God, we may mentally choke on this reality because it isn’t comfortable—it isn’t “right.” We believe we obey God, or at least want to, and we definitely don’t want to think of ourselves as ignoring the commands of God, because that doesn’t feel right or sit well with us either. It wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) be the desire of our hearts not to do the will of God; it’s just that… we get distracted with the elements of our lives, and by the cultural ocean we swim in with its focus on doing our own thing… Obeying the commands of God can all too easily become a lost item on our To-Do list. Do we love one another? Do we actively “ Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” ? Unless our spiritual gift happens to be evangelism, this command for our lives is so far down our To-Do list, it never rises to the forefront of our thoughts.
Easier Than You Think
For many of us proclaiming the gospel is uncomfortable and intimidating… and if that is how you’re feeling right now, honestly, that’s okay. We have good news for you, too! The “weight” of the work, of following the Lord’s commandment to go out, isn’t all on you (Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 2:13) and it’s truly much easier than you think! Which is good news considering this is not optional for the children of God, and it’s not “just” for pastors or those with the gift of evangelism. We, the children of God, are not our own… and collectively and individually , we are commanded to witness!
How do we get comfortable with or “shake hands” with this reality of our place in the family of God? One of the pastors of my church just gave a very applicable sermon on this, the gist of which is: We’re far more comfortable sharing what we have experienced or what we know rather than what we believe. So to begin, spend some of your quiet time meditating on what you know of God—even if that means going clear back to when you first came to the Lord. In fact, that may be a great place to start, especially if you recall what your life was like before you came to Christ. The fields are white to harvest now and there are people who are in the place you once were in and worse! Let the Holy Spirit move your heart to love the lost as part of the “one another” we’re commanded to love. Then, ask the Lord to bring to mind those you know who need Him and begin to pray for them that they would have ears to hear. In the same prayer, pray for the opportunity andthe words to share with them what you know and experience in the love of God and share the reality of your life in God with them! There doesn’t have to be a specific program or method, just simple sharing of what you have known and are experiencing!
As an example, when you’re at a restaurant, say to the server, “We’re going to be praying over our meal, could we pray for you or something in your life as well?” I’ve had the blessing, pleasure, and privilege of watching a good friend from the Gideons Auxiliary, and also my husband Dean, do this several times and never has the server been offended. Startled perhaps, but not offended or defensive. Quite the contrary, this simple question often opens the door for sharing the love of God for them or the Word of God and/or our testimony simply, easily, and naturally.
We are not our own. We are bought with the priceless blood of the Lamb! We have commands to love one another and to share the good news. We have a Good Shepherd Who will guide us and carry us because He loves us and He loves the lost. We can overcome the “Burger King-microwave” society—it’s much easier than we think!
Copyright © 2022 by Jacquie Wagner