The Good News Of The GospelEsimerkki

I've been asked many times, “Ryan, how do you share your faith? How do you share the Gospel?" Being raised in the church, I was primarily taught evangelism tactics - methods by which I could tell people a condensed version of Jesus’ life, how he died, and how they can be saved if they believe. Please hear me - I do believe this! However, my methods until recently have yielded little fruit or results.

The more I study the amazing, selfless, others-centered relationship of love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I'm beginning to realize that the best way to share the Gospel is the same way God interacts with us, which is inside a relationship. Because I'm free to love people right where they are for exactly who they are, I’m able to love the person - to have a real relationship that is not based upon me getting them to jump through a hoop so I can check my box of “getting someone saved.” A favorite quote from one of my favorite books, “The Shack,” is when Jesus says “I died for the sins of all mankind, but only some choose relationship”.

It's never been my job or responsibility to save anyone, but it is my responsibility to love them. Jesus says the world will know us by our love, so it's been my primary focus to be an image-bearer and to show people Jesus through authentic relationship. The more we grow in the knowledge and understanding that we’re loved and cared for, the more natural it is for us to share that good news with anyone we encounter.

Listen to my new song "No Matter What (feat. Bart Millard of MercyMe)" as you meditate on this devotional.