Reach Out
Boldly
With the Gospel
The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America
Our Lord told us, "Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the
age." We have referred to these verses from Matthew 28:19-20 as the "Great
Commission." We find other "commissions" in the Scriptures. For instance,
we turn to 1 Peter 2:9 and there we read, "But you are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare
the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). We find another "Great Commission" in
Matthew 5 where our Lord tells us, "Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in
heaven." We find yet another "commission" again in St. Peter's writings
when we read: "Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls
you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and
reverence" (1 Peter 3:15).
Throughout the Scriptures, God offers
encouragement to us to reach out boldly with the Gospel. But he also gives
us the strength to do so. Look again at the words of the Great Commission
in Matthew. Jesus promises us, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end
of age!" What a fantastic promise. As we look for the opportunities in our
life to share with others our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we know that
Jesus Himself is with us. He is there to encourage and to strengthen us to
tell of His saving work on the cross by which the sins of the world were
paid for. He is there to help us tell of His resurrection from the dead
which assures us of eternal life after we die.
I have to tell you that for me witnessing is just
plain fun. I try every day to day to tell one person about my faith in
Jesus Christ. I have had lots of fun doing this. Sure, there have been a
few bumps along the way, but even then the Lord is there to help me cross
over the bumps. And He will surely be there with you also to help you
speak of His forgiving love to the people with whom you daily come into
contact. God bless richly as you boldly proclaim the Gospel among friends,
family, neighbors and co-workers. God bless as you do!
