An article in the business magazine Fast Company suggests that most people choose to spend time with people much like themselves. Why? Because life seems less complicated when we’re surrounded by people who agree with us, think like us, and possess similar values.
“We all seem to gravitate toward our comfort zones from time to time, and one of the easiest ways to stay there is to spend time with people who are just like us,” writes the author of the article.
As believers in Jesus, we’re called to participate in the “Great Commission,” which instructs us to “Go and make disciples of all the nations”; baptize “them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”; “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you”; and, to rest in this fact: God is “with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:16-20).
Many of us struggle to share the gospel because we’re afraid. It can be hard to engage in conversations or interact with people who don’t believe as we do.
Though we’re to be different from nonbelievers in our behavior and the customs “of this world” (Romans 12:1-2), we’re still called to step outside of our comfort zones and bring the good news of Jesus to those who don’t know Him.
When tempted to converse only with other Christians and people who share our values, may we keep in mind that God “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
Rather than shrinking away from sharing our faith with unbelievers, let’s remember, “There is . . . joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God” (Luke 15:7). It’s our joy to share Jesus even when it means exiting our comfortable routine.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 24:44-53
More:
Read Luke 14:23 and consider where and to whom God might be calling you to share your faith.
Next:
What can you do this week to step out of your comfort zone and share the good news? How does it encourage you to know that God is “with you always,” even as you tell others about Him?
kiwi watcher on October 4, 2016 at 2:48 am
Great article. I think there are 83 reasons why Christians don’t share the gospel.
Gary Shultz on October 4, 2016 at 4:31 am
Roxanne, good to hear from you again. You of all people would be qualified to speak from this platform. I would agree that it is easier social interaction with people of like mind, and unfortunately, like type. I often watch any gathering during a break or a meal, and birds of a feather usually do flock together….. You just never know who God will have you cross paths with, we need to be willing to speak of God’s love, and we need to be living Godly lives. We also at times need to sculpt conversations that will kindly move into a spiritual opportunity. I think also that prayer will help greatly- “Lord help me”. I also think we need to be tender to how God is moving and not force an opportunity because God always gives a choice, we need to be sensitive to others choice. It’s not a conversation battle we must always win, but sometimes it’s how much respect and care we can transmit or can deliver. If someones guard is up, you didn’t get over the fences yet, and it may never happen. Roxanne, you could probably tell us some great stories, and you already have shared some. Thank you for being a leading example in Exiting the Comfort Zone.
sandy229 on October 4, 2016 at 4:49 pm
You’re right Gary, we never know who we will cross paths with so we need to let the Holy Spirit guide us in every situation, speaking the truth in love, sculpting conversations that will kindly move us into a spiritual opportunity. Praying of course is a must. But also not forcing an opportunity which usually makes things worse and sometimes intimidating.
gagirllive on October 4, 2016 at 6:03 am
Roxanne is there any more intimidating verse in the Bible for Christ-followers than the Great Commission? We know what we should do, but we fearfully struggle to do it. I’ve heard it said that it has become the Great Omission in the lives of most believers, particularly here in the West where, as you’ve stated, we’re afraid of offending someone. I’m pretty sure Jesus never meant for it to cause us so much angst. In fact, I think His intent was that it be a natural part of our lives as we live out our faith. I learned that in the Greek, the meaning for the word “Go” is rendered “As you go”, implying that we should share the Gospel naturally as we go about our everyday, ordinary lives. “As we go” to our jobs, schools, the supermarket, the gym, our neighborhoods, etc., we take (and sometimes create) the opportunity to speak words of life with the people that God has strategically placed in our path. We may only get to say a few words that will till up the soil of their heart. Someone else may plant the seed of the Gospel. God may have someone else come along and water the seed, and even another to gather the harvest. We never know our part in someone else’s redemptive story. That’s why we “obey God and leave the results to Him.” (Charles Stanley) Of course, it’s God who gives the increase—salvation is of the Lord, but how wonderful that He asks us to partner in His work. I think I read that most people receive several contacts with the Gospel before they come to saving faith in Christ. If that is true, we should eagerly participate with where God is working in a person’s life by stepping out of our comfort zone to share with them. And besides, as Christ-followers shouldn’t love be our comfort zone? I think we have it backwards—NOT sharing Christ should make us uncomfortable. If we embrace the “as you go” idea and carry in the forefront of our minds that we are Christ’s ambassadors—remembering that God is making His appeal to the world through us—we would be less intimidated in sharing our faith. Everyday, everywhere we go, we can show with our love and speak with our mouths the thing that people need to know more than anything else—Jesus saves. Thank you for giving us this little push in the right direction, Roxanne. Grace and peace to you and all my fellow travelers today.
minkjh on October 4, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Powerful testimony you present here, gagirllive. Far too many are reluctant to engage others whether out of fear or inadequacy. It brings to my mind the Wayne Watson song “Field of Souls’. The late Calvin Hunt and Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s arrangement should be heard by all who struggle with sharing the message of salvation with others (www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3K3Dc59hqw). Also, ODB Ministries has a brand new publication to assist us in fulfilling Jesus’ directive titled ‘The Good Life’. It features numerous short stories themed around finding hope for those who don’t know Christ. Winn, Russell, Jennifer, and Poh Fang are the ODJ writers who contributed, along with several from Our Daily Bread. There are many methods and tools we can employ to fulfill the Master’s charge to us. Why would we not comply- we have His promise to be with us always to the end of the age.
sandy229 on October 4, 2016 at 4:13 pm
I haven’t heard that song before so I looked it up and here are the lyrics.
Lyrics:
We work the field of souls
Together you and I
Some fields are blooming now
Other fields are dry
We are not the same
But differences aside
We will work the filed of souls
Together you and I
One is off to foreign soil
To work a distant land
Another anchors close to home
To hold a neighbor’s hand
Who has served the Father most
And who has labored best
That life devoted to our God
That devotion will be blessed
One shouts the gospel in the streets
For everyone to hear
He’s bold to everyone he meets
The Word is loud and clear
Another cries alone and prays
In silence on her knees
Before the throne day after day
Where human eyes don’t see
kiwi watcher on October 4, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Have you read the book “Evangelism. Strategies From Heaven in the War for Souls?”
sandy229 on October 4, 2016 at 5:14 pm
No, I haven’t.
kiwi watcher on October 4, 2016 at 5:20 pm
It’s on Amazon. It chronicles 30 years of experience mobilising churches for evangelism.
sandy229 on October 4, 2016 at 5:26 pm
oh okay, thank you.
Shalom
sandy229 on October 4, 2016 at 4:09 pm
I so agree with you GAgirl, I think we do have it backwards–Not sharing Christ should make us uncomfortable……. We are told to share the gospel with everyone, not just those in our comfort zone…..most of them already know the truth, but when we share with those out of our comfort zone, the truth will set them free.
sim jing ying on October 4, 2016 at 10:36 am
This week, I can sacrifice my time to spread the gospel to my Facebook friends who some are non-Christians like my testimonies and bible verses which can be said out of my comfort zone. It tells me that I don’t have to be worried when telling others about Him as he uses His Holy Spirit to teach us how to use the right words when sharing about Him every time.
kiwi watcher on October 4, 2016 at 4:34 pm
There is a great gospel presentation on line at bible in 11 dot com
youssef1777 on October 4, 2016 at 8:55 pm
WITH OUT THE GUIDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT . WE CAN NOT SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD . AND SHOW THE PEOPLE HOW GOD LOVE THEM . AND TILL THEM HOW THEY CAN BE SAVED . THIS MAY TAKE HARD WORK . BUT WE WILL REWARD FOR THAT BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST .