Each day of our lives we spend a great deal of time talking. We talk about the weather, sports, politics, our jobs, our schools, and the economy to list a few. (Some of us even spend time in gossip and character assassination.) But how much time do we actually spend talking about the Lord? Is it whenever we have an opportunity; once a day; once a week; once a year; or is it that we have ashamedly become so unfamiliar with the subject [that is, the Lord] that our verbal dictionary is limited to the word “Jesus!”; but only used in the context of frustration or being emotionally distraught?
In Acts 8:26-40 we read of the account where the Holy Spirit sent Philip to go to the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch. And then we read in Acts 8:35,
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
As I read over this passage, I wondered what the results would have been if Philip “opened his mouth” and spoke of the weather, or politics, or the Ethiopian’s job serving under queen Candace, or even how tired Philip was because of his run to the chariot. And yet, when God gives us an opportunity to “open our mouths” to witness for Him – to witness of His Son Jesus Christ – we waste time in talking about everything else but Jesus.
Throughout the New Testament we read where many were sent out – and then we also find that they were only sent with one message to speak (that being the gospel message of Jesus Christ). Mark 16:15 states,
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The apostle Paul stated in Romans 1:16,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Paul also stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4,
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
Romans 10:9-10 declares,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
And then in Romans 10:13-15 we read,
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Now the question must be raised, “If faith cometh by hearing, and hearing through proclaiming the Word of God” [cf. Romans 10:17], who then is going to “open their mouths” and proclaim the gospel [the good news] of Jesus Christ – that Jesus came to this earth, died on the cross of Calvary for every human being, was buried, arose again on the third day, and sits at the Father’s right hand? Will it be you? Will it be me? Or, will we keep our mouths closed hoping that it will be someone else? Maybe we could follow the lead of Isaiah.
Isaiah 6:8,
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
May we choose to be obedient to share the gospel with all. And may we ever be thankful that someone was willing to open their mouth and share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ unto eternal life with us.
