Dare to share (Proverbs 24-25; Ps 41; 1 Thess 2)

It must have been hard for the apostle Paul to keep going. Can you imagine not just having rude things said about you, but stones thrown at you! Can you imagine the pain of being lashed with a stick until you bled, being thrown in prison and more.

Each time Paul opened his mouth to preach, he knew it might get him into trouble. Maybe you have tried telling someone the good news about Jesus, and the hostility you faced has really made you fearful to try again. Look at the example of Paul. He tells us in 1 Thessalonians 2:2 about his treatment in Philippi, he had been beaten with rods, thrown in prison and had his hands and feet put in stocks (see Acts 16). If anything is going to have a chilling effect, surely that is, but in v2 Paul says, despite the pain, he had boldness to speak up. In fact he says, “we had boldness”. That is an important point, sometimes we do need to contend on our own, but Paul so often worked as a team, and if you can, get others to join you as you seek to share the good news with others.

Why did Paul continue? He tells us in v4, because God had given him a message to speak. He had been entrusted with the most glorious message, the way to get right with God.

But notice that the great apostle not only dared to share, he also cared to share. Notice the way he went about his ministry, the great apostle describes himself as gentle “like a nursing mother” (v7). Paul cared deeply for those he was preaching to, and this should mark us out as we dare to share the gospel, we should be those who deeply care for those we are speaking to. Sharing not just the message, but our lives (v8).

Who can you dare to share the glorious gospel with this week?

Lord God, you know how we are often fearful to share the gospel, we fear what people think. Please help us to fear only you, and to seek to please only you. Please give us courage to speak your truth, and please give us a gentle manner as we do so. We pray that everyone we speak to about the Lord Jesus might know that we care for them, we love them enough to tell them uncomfortable truths. Amen.