“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
Ephesians 6:19-20
The apostle Paul may be considered one of the most bold and courageous ambassadors of the Gospel, but even he got butterflies in his stomach. In one paragraph, he twice asks for prayer for courage in sharing the truth of the Gospel. How odd to think that even the great apostle felt fear.
We can identify with Paul’s struggle. When it comes to declaring the Gospel, whether pointing an unbeliever to Christ, or exposing sin in the life of a fellow believer, many would rather drop broad hints and hope that the Holy Spirit would do the rest. Often we are an emotional mixed bag, fearful of saying the right thing in the wrong place or the wrong thing in the right place.
Sometimes we are fearful of not only declaring the Gospel but of demonstrating it. Compassion may have suited our Lord, but perhaps we would rather drop coins in a Salvation Army bucket and remain at an arm’s-length distance from people with real hurts.
Fear is natural for humans. Fearlessness is a supernatural grace God gives when we, like Paul, pray and ask for courage.
We may fumble with what to say, when and how to say it; we may struggle with what to do, when and how to do it. That’s why prayer is the best preface to either declaring or demonstrating the Gospel. The Lord is our resource for courage.
Lord, I need Your courage today. Help me to look for opportunities to make known Your Gospel. And when I open my mouth, please give me words so that I can fearlessly declare and demonstrate Your Gospel of love.
