In my teenage years I had a youth leader called
Andy. Andy was a passionate evangelist and couldn’t help but tell
people about Jesus. Inspired by his boldness I decided to take action
myself and bring ‘revival’ to my school.
One Sunday I asked Andy to give me a supply of Bible tracts to use for
sharing Jesus with my school friends. Monday morning arrived and I walked
triumphantly to school carrying a bag full of school books, sandwiches
and enough tracts to bring revival. Lunchtime came, and I was playing
with some friends on the field. I don’t quite remember how it
happened, but at some point in our tomfoolery my bag fell open and the
pile of tracts flew out across the grass like water from a bursting
dam. Curiosity was immediately captured and my friends picked up the
tracts and started looking at them…..and then they started laughing!!!
This was not how it was supposed to happen.
My plans for boldness were rapidly turning into a need to find a rapid
escape route. But no joy….”Where did you get these, Matt?”,
I was asked. The moment of truth had arrived! Here was my great opportunity
to ‘Shout it Out’ - to declare to my friends that I was
a Christian.
So what did I say? The truth hurts I’m afraid. I took a gulp and
answered “Oh, some guy gave them to me on the way to school. It’s
nothing.”. A double whammy! I was embarrassed about being a Christian
and I lied. Now I know how Peter felt. I had a great opportunity to
‘Shout it out’, but when it came to it I was ashamed. Dangerous
ground if it wasn’t for the grace and forgiveness of God.
Yet, God has entrusted a huge responsibility to us. To speak and live
out His truth so that people will come into a living relationship with
Jesus Christ. The danger is that we avoid the speaking bit and just
focus on the living bit (which if we’re honest, we don’t
do too well either).
Yet the Bible gives us a clear “Shout it out” mandate in
1 Peter 3:15
“Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re
living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy” (taken
from The Message)
This is easier said than done of course, particularly for our young
people. Yet can I suggest to you that there are four reasons why we
should get busy and ‘Shout it out’.
This is not about being embarrassed to
confess you’re a Val Doonican fan. This is about sharing the fantastic
truth that God loves the world and offers everyone a new life of freedom.
When you read Romans 1:16 and 2 Timothy 1:11-12 you definitely get a
sense that Paul had grasped this.
It’s awesome that God chooses to work through us to rescue people
from an eternity in Hell (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
We should never give up or shut up because God rewards faithfulness,
particularly in times of trial. Jesus himself promised this in Matthew
5:10-12
Peter ‘the embarrassed’ is transformed into Peter ‘the
empowered’ when the Holy Spirit comes upon him, just as Jesus
has promised in Acts 1:8. We should ask God everyday to create opportunities
for us to ‘Shout it out’ in the knowledge that the Holy
Spirit will give us the words to say.
Our motto for 2003 is “Shout it out”. A clear call for leaders
and young people alike to boldly declare “following Jesus is the
best way…it’s life2themax’.
