How to Share My Hope with Others

In Mark 16:15 I read, “Wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News.” (GW)

Wherever I go, Jesus wants me to share the hope I have in him. It’s one of God’s purposes for my life.

Jesus said, “Wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News” (Mark 16:15 GW). Bringing someone into the family of God is the greatest thing I can do.

There are six practical steps I can use to share the hope I have in Jesus. Here are the first three:

Live it. Long before I talk about my faith, I should live it. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:12, “Live properly among your unbelieving neighbors . . . They will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God” (NLT). If people like what they see in me, they are more likely to listen to what I say.

Learn it. I could know about the hope that is in me and still have a hard time expressing it. But 1 Peter 3:15-16 says, “Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect” (GNT). As people see something different about my life, I need to be ready when they ask, “Why do you live the way you do?” And then I share “with gentleness and respect.”

Apologize for not sharing sooner. There may be people in your life you’ve known for 10, 20, or even 30 years. How do I break the ice and talk about Jesus with people I’ve known for a long time? I apologize and say, “You’ve been a good friend for a long time, but for some reason, I haven’t told you about the most important thing in my life. I’m sorry. I wish I had told you sooner.” You’ve known them long enough to know I don’t want to spend eternity without them.

The Bible says, “The righteous person is a guide to his friend” (Proverbs 12:26 GNT). Guiding friends the right way means caring enough about them to want them to spend eternity with me in heaven.

In summary, wherever I go, Jesus wants me to share the hope I have in him. It’s one of God’s purposes for my life. Jesus said, “Wherever you go, tell everyone the Good News”. Bringing someone into the family of God is the greatest thing I can do. There are six practical steps I can use to share the hope I have in Jesus. Here are the first three: Live it. Long before I talk about my faith, I should live it. I am to “Live properly, they will see, and they will give honor to God”. If people like what they see in me, they are more likely to listen to what I say. Learn it. I could know about the hope that is in me and still have a hard time expressing it. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks, but do it with gentleness and respect”. As people see something different about my life, I need to be ready when they ask, “Why do you live the way you do?” Apologize for not sharing sooner. There may be people in your life you’ve known for years. How do I break the ice? I apologize and say, “You’ve been a good friend, but for some reason, I haven’t told you about the most important thing in my life. I wish I had told you sooner.” I’ve known them long enough to know I don’t want to spend eternity without them. Guiding friends the right way means caring enough about them to want them to spend eternity with me.

Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world, telling everyone that he had paid the penalty for sin and that those who believe in him can be forgiven and live eternally with God. Christians today in all parts of the world are telling this Good News to people who haven't heard about Christ. The driving power that carries missionaries around the world and sets Christ's church in motion is the faith that comes from the Resurrection. Do I feel as though I don't have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ? I must personally realize that Jesus rose from the dead and lives for me today. As I grow in my relationship with Christ, he will give me both the opportunities and the inner strength to share his message.