During this holiday season, some people still go caroling. This used to be a much more widespread tradition, but it has fallen into disuse. There are, no doubt, many reasons for this. People are just too busy. People get their carols over the radio, on CD’s and various music outlets. People just aren’t interested in Christmas carols anymore. Traditional carols have been replaced with other kinds of “carols.” It’s like a lot of things these days - things have changed.
One thing which has not changed and never will change is the need for the world to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of the grace of God. People still need to hear of the love God has for them as seen in the death of Jesus on His cross and His resurrection from the dead. They need to hear that they can avail themselves of Jesus’ triumph over sin and the grave through faith, repentance and baptism. They need to hear of the promised, even guaranteed, hope of eternal life and future glory. Just as Jesus did, and later the apostles and the early church, we, in our time, need to be telling the gospel story. We need to be “gospeling,” if you will.
On many counts, I am convinced that we have made this more difficult than it is. We have let our fears deter us by anticipating all of the negative responses. “What if someone makes fun of me?” “What if they ask me a question I can’t answer?” “What if I get tongue-tied or don’t remember what to say?” We think we have to “preach” a whole gospel sermon. We think we have to convert somebody on the spot. We think... We think... We think too much!
Just let the Holy Spirit guide you and be open to the people around you. Here’s a couple of examples. When someone starts talking of aches and illnesses, just mention your hope about one day having a “new body.” When someone asks the proverbial “What do you know for sure?”, respond with, “Well, Jesus is alive from the dead.” Just be ready and see where it goes. Let God work.
It is our privilege and should be our joy to spread the good news of salvation. It is part of what we “signed on” to do as Christians who have been redeemed by the blood. Let’s be gospeling.
><> Jeff