“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.” Luke 10:22-24
There can be nothing more nerve wracking than sharing the Gospel with a friend or family member. Often we fear being rejected, or face the fact that they may never believe what you are so convinced of. Yet I would imagine there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a loved one saved.
Indeed, the harvest is great and the workers are few. But even though we are commissioned to share the Gospel, we are not responsible for the salvation of others. Jesus has already warned us in Luke 10:16 that if you are rejected when sharing the Good News, He and the Father are the ones actually being disregarded. Our responsibility is to “sow seeds,” not to “harvest” or convert others. And I pray that knowing this truth will ease your fears, along with the pain of being declined.
As verse 23 says, I believe we are blessed to be the Father’s children because we see. And it is not by coincidence. For as far reaching as it may sound, we have been chosen (verse 22) by God over many who long to see but may never because of unbelief. You may propose, in your mind, the most polished and convincing presentation of God’s truth and still be met with resistance. Yet a simple declaration of what Jesus did on the cross could be received by much acceptance.
When I was a college student, I applied to be an intern at “Sunset” magazine. The personal assistant to the Chairman and also a U.S. Ambassador at that time, took really good care of me. I ended up staying with Floyd for a few days and accompanied him on his walks to the Castro. Unbeknownst to me, the Castro is an area frequented by homosexuals. I remember at a street corner taking out my pocket Bible and sharing with him a simple statement of how Jesus loved and died for him. His response was, “Why hasn’t anyone told me this before?” He received Christ that day and thereafter founded a ministry to the homosexual community in Northern California. Please be assured that when people like Floyd are open to God’s revelation and drawn by the power of His love, there’s no stopping them from seeing. And it will not take much effort from you, simply your faithfulness. So keep sharing, as you never know...
Pastor Terence