The Difference Maker

Have you ever been in a moment where you knew you had the opportunity to share about Jesus, but you chickened out?

• Maybe someone asked what you did at the weekend and you dodged the church part.
• Or a colleague asked a genuinely spiritual question and you froze.
• Or a neighbor was carrying something heavy, and you sensed the Holy Spirit nudging you to pray with them, but you stayed silent.

I’ve been there. I think we all have.

Sometimes it helps to name what holds us back: fear of rejection, anxiety about being accepted, or the worry that we’ll look like a crazy religious person.

Instead of letting those fears define us, we can bring them to Jesus. In fact, if there’s something specific that has already come to mind, pause for a moment to release that thing to God. Ask for His forgiveness where needed.

May we never be “ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, NIV).

Living on mission can be challenging and intimidating. It takes effort, energy, time, and risk. It is a journey of faith.

Yet people are often far more open than we expect. So let’s choose to live openly spiritual lives and allow our friends, neighbors, and those nearby to experience the incredible, life-giving presence of God revealed through us.

If the Spirit of God lives in us, then we carry His presence wherever we go. There will be moments when something compelling or captivating about us stands out: the peace we carry, the way we respond under pressure, the fruit or gifts of the Spirit at work in us. And, occasionally, people might comment on that difference.

And alongside showing the gospel, we must also tell the gospel. Scripture reminds us, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV). So we ask the Holy Spirit for boldness. Then we intentionally make time and space for spiritual conversations, always from a posture of love.

As we build relationships and spend time with those who don’t yet follow Jesus, we watch for the people the Spirit is highlighting. To do this, ask yourself:

• Who among my lost friends seems genuinely interested that I’m a follower of Jesus?
• Who asks spiritual questions like, “There must be more to life than this”?
• Who leans in rather than shutting down when faith comes up?

Our task is to demonstrate and declare the presence of the Kingdom wherever we go. "Your Kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10, NIV). Try praying that prayer using the name of your own town, street, school, or workplace.

Paul urges us to let our conversations be "full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6, NIV). Grace is kind, invitational, and loving. Salt is the occasional "ooh!" moment that makes a conversation compelling. This can be as simple as saying, “Can I pray for you?”, or sharing a story of God’s goodness in your life.

In Exodus 33, Moses tells God that His presence is the one thing that makes God’s people different from everyone else. “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here… What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16, NIV)

Our prayer is that others experience that same presence through our lives. Jesus promises exactly that. As He sends His disciples out, He assures them, and us, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b, NIV)

So let’s step out in faith, demonstrating and declaring the Kingdom with boldness, love, and an expectation to speak when the Spirit prompts.

Your Next Steps

1. How do you usually feel about sharing your faith - excited, nervous, hesitant? Bring those feelings honestly to God.
2. Think about a Person of Peace in your life, a lost friend who’s open to Jesus in you. What is one way you could move a conversation with them one level deeper?
3. Ask Jesus for three opportunities this week to speak about Him. Three times?! Wow, yes please Lord!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that we carry Your presence wherever we go. Thank You that Your presence is not passive, but captivating. Help me to demonstrate and declare the fullness of life that comes with You. Give me opportunities in the coming days, and the courage to respond. In Your name, Amen.

More Resources for You!

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