I don’t know how many of you may remember the old song, “Excuses, Excuses.” It was the biggest hit of the Kingsmen quartet in 1981. Since I don’t have the rights to print it here, I’ll just try to explain it. The song was about all the excuses that people give to keep from going to church. The same could be said about telling others about Jesus. It seems that we always have excuses. Here’s my “mock off” of the song.

“I’m persuaded that much of our fear, anxiety, discouragement, and hopelessness is the result of bad theology.” - Paul David Tripp, Everyday Gospel

That sentence from a recent devotional study gave me pause. I never thought of myself as having bad theology, but this statement made me realize that any excuse we have for not obeying our Lord’s command to ‘go and tell’ is the result of not truly believing the God of the Bible.

My dad was diagnosed with leukemia in 1994.  He was only 47 years old.  I was 24 and pregnant with our first son.  It came out of nowhere and rocked our world.  God blessed us with 7 more years of ups and downs.  It was not an easy road to walk, especially for my parents, BUT GOD.

When you do anything such as cook, repair something, teach a lesson, or whatever, you must be prepared. You must get necessary tools, ingredients, etc. ready. You must also know what the steps are, or you may even have to learn certain things before you can do the job. The same is true of witnessing or making disciples.

How do you know when to speak up and when to keep quiet? How do you know which people to witness to? How do you know exactly what to say? Stay tuned to the “right channel” and the Holy Spirit will lead you to say and do what needs to be said and done with the proper recipients. It doesn’t matter if you’re part of an organized visitation or witnessing program with your church or simply taking opportunities as they come in daily life, you should be praying for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right people and to help you say the right things at the right time.

I slid into my car after running errands, turned on The Message XM station, and started to drive.  The very next song played had the above title, “What Are You Waiting For?” I knew immediately that God had spoken to me with this question and I thought He might to you as well.

How would you answer this question when it comes to going and telling about Jesus? When it has to do with evangelism?  When it deals with sowing seeds of truth?  When it addresses building relationships, etc.?

Does it strike fear in your heart when your church talks about going door-to-door to visit strangers to tell them about Jesus?  It certainly does in mine!  Growing up I remember my dad going on Thursday nights with other men to visit homes of people he did not know.  Times have certainly changed, haven’t they?  Some may still do visitation weekly like that but with the culture today most people won’t answer the door to someone they don’t know. That doesn’t change our mission though, does it?  Jesus said, “Go and Tell.” 

As I think about the theme of Go and Tell, it kind of makes my chest get tight.  I am more of a “Come, and I Will Tell You” girl. Come to Sunday School, I teach that.  Come to Ladies Bible Study, I can lead a session.  Come to Kids Bible Club, I will be there too.  But Go and Tell…does that really mean me?

“The pastor mentioned an outreach program, but who’s he talking to? We don’t even have any other preachers in this church that I know of. Seriously, he ought to change his subject if he wants the members to pay attention. Jesus was talking to the apostles in Matthew 28:18-20. That wouldn’t include the ordinary church member, just pastors. Right?”

Have thoughts like this run through your mind before?

“You may be the only Bible someone reads.” “Actions speak louder than words.” Sometimes we hear these things and take them a little too literally. At least, I know I do. For years, I knew I was saved, and I tried to live as best as I could, so I thought my example was enough to show the world that they all need Jesus. Then several years ago, someone said, “If you never explain that you are only able to live that way because of Jesus and what He did for you, then the world just thinks you’re a goody two shoes and can’t see Jesus in you.” That was like having ice water thrown in my face. It woke me up; however, I still forget sometimes. So, what does that mean we should do?