As the gospel of Jesus Christ began to spread after Jesus’ resurrection, things got uncomfortable for His disciples. They were imprisoned, threatened, and warned to stop. But they had experienced incredible transformation in Christ. They were witnesses to all He had done when He walked the earth. They were witnesses to His crucifixion and His resurrection. They were witnesses to His ascension. And they were living proof of the power of the Holy Spirit whom He sent. No matter how uncomfortable it got for them, they were determined to tell everyone about salvation in Jesus.
Jesus’ marching orders for His disciples are for us, too: Go and tell! And although most of us won’t be threatened with imprisonment or physical danger, the social pressure of this day can make talking about Jesus uncomfortable.
Here are four ways to prepare to be uncomfortable:
1 – Determine what you are willing to be uncomfortable for.
Not everything is worth the stress of a disagreement. There are political ideologies of which more than one opinion can be valid, even if you disagree. Don’t get into arguments over those things. Instead, be willing to stand for the truth of the Word of God and salvation in Jesus Christ no matter what.
2 – Know the word of God. You cannot stand strong for something if you do not know it.
If you want confidence and boldness to stand for the Word of God, you need to know it. And to know it, you must read it and study it. When you fill your mind with the Bible, the Holy Spirit will call to mind what you need to know when you need to know it.
3 – Pray for boldness to speak the truth in love.
Contrary to popular belief, boldness, truth, and love can go together. The most loving thing you can do for someone is to lead them to the truth that determines their eternity. The gospel of Jesus Christ is wonderful news, and it is God’s news. Be eager to proclaim it, but remember, you do not need to ferociously defend it to make it true.
4 – Recognize when it’s time to shake the dust off and move on.
There is a veil over the eyes of those who do not believe and only God can remove it. If someone is not interested in hearing what you have to say, you cannot control that. You are called to be Jesus’ witness, testifying to what you know is true, not His attorney to argue or defend His case. Just walk away and pray that God changes their heart because only He can.
The world is changing fast, and Jesus’ return is getting closer every day. As followers of Christ, we must prepare to be uncomfortable and keep sharing the Good News no matter what because people need Jesus!
