Go and Tell!

My Grandma Ruark was known for three things amongst her dozens of grandchildren—her love for the ocean, Scrabble, and keeping her diary. My grandfather died before I was born, so it was just my grandmother who would come and visit every summer. She loved the ocean, so we would go every year down to the Sea Gypsy Motel in Lincoln City, Oregon. Most of the time, when I woke up, my grandmother would already have been out for a walk on the beach.   

If we were lucky, we’d get a room with a sliding glass door that opened right out onto the beach, or you could sit at the table and play Scrabble for hours with Grandma while watching the waves roll in. If you were quiet enough, you could even hear the waves in the background.   

One year, when I was 11 years old, instead of her coming to Oregon, we went to Pennsylvania for a family reunion. We all stayed on the same grounds with each family having a small apartment (my dad was one of nine children, so this was no small family gathering!). 

One night during the trip, I was over at Grandma’s playing Scrabble, and I finally won! We had played many games over the years, and I had never won! I was so excited I couldn’t wait to tell them, so I ran the 150 yards back to our apartment to tell my parents. I even called back to Grandma to ask her to write about it in her diary! I had the most amazing news in the world, and I was excited to tell everyone!

When was the last time you had this kind of unashamed enthusiasm to tell good news? When was the last time your good news wasn’t just about you, but something that would benefit the listener? As Christians, we have the best news ever! We can be healed and redeemed and live forever with God!

Today’s passages are a reminder you are being sent out by and with the authority of Jesus Christ! Furthermore, you don’t go alone but with Jesus! This means you can go boldly and without fear. Remember that there are many ways to share the good news of the gospel. It can be as direct as declaring the message of the gospel with your mouth, as tangible as healing a sickness in Jesus’s name (either through prayer or through loving care), as miraculous as setting someone free from a demon, and as illustrative as a baptism. Do you believe the gospel is worth telling? Is it such good news that it’s worth risking embarrassment, rejection, or even your popularity?

Pray and Journal—Spend some time thinking about where you would be had you not placed your faith in Jesus. Now pray and ask God for: 

1. Opportunities to share the gospel;
2. The ability to share boldly and clearly; and
3. People to respond positively to the Holy Spirit. 

We hope this Plan encouraged you! Learn more about Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.