"Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
I laughed uneasily. Would it be considered tittering? For a freshman in college hoping the borrowed driver's license would pass muster to get her into the pub crawl that Saturday night, it was probably a titter. I didn't drink, I just wanted to be there to impress my crush, someone whom I hoped very much was suddenly within my reach of dating.
Or so I had thought. It wasn't until the evening wore on and on that it became more and more clear that not only was he not within my reach, I didn't really even want to know him. The way he spoke, where he looked, how he kept drinking. The evening drew to a close, and I hustled to the door to retire back to the house where I lived with sisters, friends, and my stuffed animal bear.
He tried to convince me to stay, but in a sudden blurt of courage with the bar door ajar, I told him, "This isn't how you should act. This isn't how anyone should act. God wants much more from you!" The bitter Minnesota winter night bit my face on the rush to the car, and my tears stung like the littlest icicles into my cheeks.
When Jesus told the Apostles to go out and proclaim the Gospel to every creature, He probably did mean every crush-turned-yikes guy. He probably did mean how we live our lives, we say our peace, we try and then acknowledge our failures to point people back towards Him. Not because we're perfect, but because we aren't.
When you think about going into the whole world and letting the Gospel story permeate all parts of your life, which do you shrink back from letting it touch? What do you want to keep just for you and your comfort that could use the disinfecting light of day, of His truth? Let it in now.
Let the Light in. // Nell O'Leary Click to tweet
Jesus, show me how to proclaim the Gospel through my words, actions, and heart.
LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
A NEW WORKSHOP
COME BACK TO FIRST LOVE
