How should we tell others about Jesus? What if they aren’t interested?
Roman’s 1:20 (NIV) states, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Those with a heart toward God will want to learn of Him. We see miracles in the world and space all around us in the endless array of incredible plant and animal life, the sun placed at just the perfect distance to sustain life, the vast expanse of the universe beyond. In fact, current estimates of astronomers indicate a minimum of 100 billion galaxies in the discernable universe. Indeed, all of creation points us toward an extremely intelligent designer with an intellect far above our own.
We read in Psalm 19:1 (NIV), “…The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Acts 17:27 (NIV) states, “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
When you are seeking after God this is pleasing to Him. We read, regarding our Lord Jesus, in Revelation 3:20 (NIV), “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
God “tells” us of His wonderful plans for all mankind through the ransom of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, not in audible tones, but through the Bible. Jeremiah 29:13 (Tanakh) says, “…ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Still, not everyone will earnestly seek God in this lifetime. We read in Psalm 14:1 (ISV), “Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt…not one of them practices what is good.”
Your faith will grow as you read the Bible, since the Word of God tells us in Romans 10:17 (KJV), “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” While we cannot see God with the naked eye, we do see the evidence of His creation all around us.
We read His word in the Holy Scriptures, which builds our faith, if we believe. Hebrews 11:1 (Weymouth) states, “Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.”
You might encourage others by sharing that each individual’s experience in desiring to seek God will be unique, just as each person is unique. But once the desire occurs, the method God provides to learn of His plans and purposes is the same for all, reading the Holy Scriptures. As we read the Bible more, and as our faith grows, we become more hopeful due to learning of God’s loving character as exemplified in verses such as, John 3:16 (NIV), “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Our hopefulness and the positive attitude it helps develop in us, along with our desire to do good to others, as the Bible admonishes us in Galatians 6:10, will witness to others that we have learned of God and Jesus, even if we do not immediately tell them of our experience in coming to God through Christ.
When the time does seem appropriate to share something about our Christian journey, Proverbs 25:11 (NASB) tells us, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”
Simply and lovingly sharing your enthusiasm for God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and relating your experience of being drawn to learn of them, then reading the Bible, then praying, then perceiving a growth in your faith, would also be appropriate for non-believers. James 4:8 teaches us that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. We can shine the light of Jesus Christ in our loving, giving interactions with people even before we have opportunity to share our experiences in being drawn.
We can also encourage others to have hope in God’s plan through Christ by sharing our faith in God and His Word, and eventually relating our own experience, in seeking and finding God. We find Isaiah 35:10 (ESV), which speaks about God’s glorious plan for ALL people, to be very encouraging: ”And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Take comfort when most others are currently unable to see matters as you do now because God’s word indicates that the eyes of comparatively few will be opened during this present time, for the purpose of completing the “Church” or “Bride of Christ” composed of individuals from every nation.
The remainder of mankind will eventually be resurrected and have full opportunity to find and learn of God and Jesus, and to desire righteousness in the glorious eternity He has planned for ALL, with the Christ, Head and body, assisting each and every redeemed person to walk up the “highway of holiness” (see Isaiah 35:8) in the eventually perfected earth, to love God and Jesus appropriately, and to obtain life everlasting.
To learn more about sharing the Gospel message listen to, “Are Christians Supposed to Convert the World?”
