One day, I was in the grocery store shopping while the kids were eating bananas from the free fruit for kids stand. My two-year-old was sitting in the shopping cart and when he finished his banana, he wiped his hand on my shirt like it was a napkin. Needless to say, I was upset. I was wearing a t-shirt that had a definition of the gospel based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 written on it that some friends in college ministry gave me. Although the message written on the shirt was still clear to read, it was smeared with banana. I wanted to zip up my jacket so no one would see the mess.
Sometimes I feel this way about sharing gospel, the good news of Jesus, with others. I’m hesitant to share, or I want to hide it because, I think they will see the mess. My mess can be defined in two different ways. Either I think that I am too sinful to be worthy of sharing the gospel, or I think I am inadequate in my delivery of the message of the gospel. I think I have to have it all together for someone to believe Jesus. But the truth is, the power of the gospel is neither in my strength to resist sin, nor in my ability to deliver the message eloquently. The power of the gospel rests on who the message is about: Jesus.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 (ESV)
It may feel like my sinfulness or poor delivery can taint the message of the gospel like the banana smeared on the message on my t-shirt. However, I actually think the banana smear may have caused people to look at the shirt to read the message even more. My sinfulness points to my need for the Savior. And, God can use me because of my weaknesses. Paul, a follower of Jesus, spoke about how his weaknesses made him strong in Christ.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
Although my life will be messy, and God gives grace for the mess, God is not calling me to wallow in the mess. Instead he is calling me to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel
Philippians 1:28 (ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)
A life worthy of the gospel is a life of love for God and love for others, which can only come by faith in Jesus. The message of salvation in Jesus is too good to hide. God knows that we are tempted to hide it like I was tempted to zip up my jacket to cover my shirt. So, Jesus gave these instructions to those who follow him.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
Forgive me for hiding my light. The power of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is greater than my sin or my weaknesses. Thank you for your sufficient grace. Help me to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel and to unashamedly tell others about Jesus.