Why Go and Tell?
by Kelly Williams
Why should we go and tell others about Jesus and His amazing grace? Why is it important that we each do our part of the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20? “Go and tell” is a commandment, the last one Jesus gave us before His return to His throne in heaven. Aren’t pastors and missionaries paid to do this for us? No, we are all included in that command as Jesus followers.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains the purpose of spiritual gifts and their purpose for the church believers. He likens the church to a body with many parts, each doing the specific function they are created and gifted to do. At the end of that chapter, he closes it by saying “And yet I will show you a most excellent way.” Then in the first verse of chapter 13, Paul states, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” So how important is love? I realized this week how important love is and how badly I show love most days. I get so wrapped up in my head with all the things I want to get done, that I don’t even see people nor show God’s love to them.
As we approach Valentine’s Day (the day the world shows love) in the next week, I remember quite a few years ago when our three children were young (6, 8, 10), my husband was in seminary four days a week studying Greek and Hebrew and many other things, pastored full time, and my role was to homeschool our children and keep the house running, as well as duties at the church. We were BROKE! Valentine’s was approaching and I knew we could not afford a night out or flowers or gifts. I decided to show Ken in small ways for one week before the 14th how much I love and appreciate him. Each day I placed little poems or notes in places I knew he would find them. For instance, I put a post it note on his steering wheel that said “I’m stuck on you.” I wanted to express my love without spending any money. After a few days, he caught on and began leaving me notes and small things. Like he took an apple and put it in the kitchen with a note, “You’re the apple of my eye.” My heart just about melted!
How do we love everyone like that? Maybe not leaving notes like we do, but how can we show greater love than telling people about eternity. I was convicted yesterday while driving to Conway and listening to Spotify (Gaither Vocal Band) about how good God is and how much He loves me. They sang that children’s song we probably all learned in kindergarten, “Jesus Loves Me.” And I was reminded once again just how much Jesus loves me, because He went to the cross, endured the physical agony, but I think greater still was the pain of carrying all our sins to the cross. Did you see that? ALL the sins of every person who has been or ever will be born. What a weight that must have been to carry. What love! Another song I heard yesterday for the first time said something like this: Love the ones God gave you, because one day He will want them back.”
So should we pray, God, help me love like Jesus? I’m honest to say I’m not sure I am capable of loving like that but my prayer yesterday and today is, “God, thank you first of all for the gift of your Son, the most amazing Valentine’s gift ever. Help me, Father, to love everyone, even those who may not seem lovable because You have commanded us to do so.”
1 Corinthians 12-13
