8-10-15. Deut 6:20-21. Be Ready To Share The Gospel When Someone Asks
Be Ready To Share The Gospel When Someone Asks
Deuteronomy 6:20-21a Kevin E. Jesmer 8-10-15
“In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you? Tell them…” (NIV)
In Deuteronomy 6:20, God tells the Israelites that they need to be ready to answer their kids’ questions about the meaning of the Passover. The parents needed to be ready to tell of God’s grace of deliverance. Look at verses 20-21a,
“In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you? Tell them…”
The command to “tell” is passed down to us today. Down through the generations, Christian parents and elders need to be ready to reveal the grace of God, poured out upon us by his Gospel. We must not be ignorant of God or the grace of God. (If we cannot give a talk about God’s grace, at least we can find someone who can.) How great it is when a parent can sit a young person down and talk about the truth of God in plain and simple terms and make it personal at the same time. Peter tells us, in 1 Peter 3:14-15,
“ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (NIV)
Not many are ready to tell about the basics of the Gospel. If someone asks, so many are at a loss for words. But God’s people need to be ready pointing the way to Jesus and saving faith. This comes from regular Bible study, mediation on God’s word, and putting God’s word into practice. It requires a personal encounter with the Lord.
I thank God for one Christian man who was ready, at the right moment, with the words I needed to hear in order to surrender my heart to Jesus and believe. It was back in 1986 at the UBF- MSU Summer Bible Conference. I was 22 years old, a new college grad and trying my best to justify my unbelief. But I was a roommate with a Korea Missionary, Joshua Yoon. I didn’t know it and Joshua Yoon didn’t know it, but God knew that I was on the verge of believing for the first time in my life. It was after the morning program, and we were resting in our room, intending to write a testimonial on the morning message. I asked Joshua some questions about Christian marriage. Joshua Yoon was right there, at the right time, telling me about God’s plan for marriage in the Bible. Those words were the straw the broke the proverbial camel’s back.
All at once, I realized the depth of the Bible. I realized the wisdom of the Bible and that no person could ever come up with such depth and knowledge. The Bible had to be from God. I realized I had no reason to continue on with my unbelief, but every reason to believe. I repented of my unbelief and believed. God forgave me of my sins and the Holy Spirit poured into my heart. Suddenly I knew that Jesus was alive and real. I knew the Bible is God’s word and the way to learn of Jesus and follow him. I believed that there is the Kingdom of God. I could see that believers were part of the world wide family of faith, citizens of God’s kingdom. I was born again.
The epiphanies of truth were so overwhelming to my soul that I began to shed tears. It was a feeling akin to people who were deaf and suddenly could hear for the first time when they received cochlear implants. When adults heard sound for the fist time they broke down and cried. I was experiencing God for the first time in a deep and personal way. I was overwhelmed by his epiphanies of truth. I could not but cry. The point I am trying to make is that Christ worked through a man who was prepared to share truths from the Bible at exactly the right time. And that was 29 years ago and Jesus has kept me the faith. We must be prepared and ready to share about the wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will surely work through us to lead others to saving faith.
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