Sharing the Gospel

 By: Grace Metzger

Be Prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks who asks you
to give a reason for the hope you have.
1 Peter 3:15

Lately I've been having a bit of a problem with comparing myself to others. There are people I know who are very smart, they know the Bible so well, they are well spoken, able to get their point across clearly. I envy them. I'm not well spoken, I struggle to find a way to say things correctly, and well, I'm not very book smart. These insecurities make it hard to talk about my faith with others. I would rather leave it up to someone else who is better at speaking then I am.

Clearly that isn't going to fly with God. In Matthew 28:19-20, He gives us the Great Commission which is,  "Go and make disciples of every nation. Baptism them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." God didn't say "Go and make disciples of every nation only if you feel comfortable doing so," or "Go and make disciples of every nation if you went to Bible college." God's commission doesn't depend on us or our skills. 

It isn't a easy thing to accept, at least for me at times. I sit quietly and watch others minister to people and I'm quick to compare myself to them. I hear their words and I know that I could never explain it as clearly as they did. 

One Sunday I was having a practically hard time with this, I was driving around asking God why He didn't give me the ability to speak well, why didn't He give me the wisdom so many others have, why did He withhold these gifts from me. God reminded me of Moses. Moses was like me, not well spoken and struggled with the idea of having to minster to others. In Exodus 4:10 he said to God, "Please Lord, I have never been eloquent." God however was not going to let Moses use that excuse. I love God's replied to Moses, in Exodus 4:11-12 God says, "Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say."

God didn't say to Moses, "Here let me fix that for you," but rather said, "I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say." God could have instantly fixed Moses, could have made him speak eloquently. But God didn't need someone who could speak eloquently, nor did he need someone who was brilliant. God picked Moses because God knew that he was obedient.  

God doesn't require me to be the smartest person alive in order to spread His word. He doesn't require me to be the most well spoken person there is in order to spread His word. All He wants is for me to be obedient to Him. We can't use our lack of certain skills as a excuse. All we can do is ask God that He helps us speak and teaches us what to say. He did it for Moses and He can do it for us.

Discussion:
1. Do you struggle with sharing God with others?
2. If so, what holds you back?
3. If you do not struggle in this area, what advice could you give someone who does?