The Gospel is for Everyone

The first time I talked about Jesus to someone who hadn’t heard about Him was in third grade. There was a new girl at school and her family was from India. Through the course of our friendship, I learned she was a Hindu. Always curious, I asked questions about her faith. In turn, she asked about mine. I was only eight, and with childlike faith I believed Jesus was the way, the truth and the life and no one could come to the Father, except through Him.

There was a concrete tunnel on the school playground, and sitting inside, I asked her if she wanted to know Jesus, so she could be certain to get to God. She said yes, and there in that tunnel I told her that even though we were sinners, Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, and if we believed in Him we could have eternal life. Then we prayed. Rudimentary? Yes. But I knew Jesus and I wanted my friend to know Him too.

I can’t help but think how much I have changed since third grade. Very sadly, years of studying the Bible haven’t made me more bold in sharing my faith. My own self-awareness and desire to be liked have caused me to shy away from spiritual conversations that don’t feel safe. I have made excuses for why I shouldn’t tell someone about Jesus, usually based on my judgement about whether or not they will believe what I say.

In Acts 10, we see Peter was making some judgements of his own. He wasn’t willing to go to the Gentiles of his own accord. Through the course of the chapter, we read how God intervened to break down Peter’s preconceived ideas and lead him to share the Gospel with a group of people he otherwise would not have. We also get a fuller picture of how God worked not only in Peter as the one who would share, but also in Cornelius and the others who would hear. He is the great orchestrator of events and is always working to draw people to Himself!

This encourages and convicts me. The Holy Spirit doesn’t ask us to go somewhere that He isn’t already at work. He prepares us to share, and He also prepares those who will hear. We can trust that as He is calling us to go to someone, He is simultaneously working in the one He is leading us to.

The Gospel is for everyone! We don’t know if someone will accept or reject it, but everyone deserves the opportunity to hear it. Right now the Holy Spirit is preparing someone to hear about Jesus and His love for them! Will we go where He leads us and share with whomever He asks?

-Natalie Runyon