I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
–Acts 20:24
We ought to live and speak in such a way that we create interest in the gospel of Jesus Christ–and we have to be ready to share the gospel clearly when we have the opportunity to do so. That’s what Paul said in Colossians 4:5–6: “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Let me share three applications from this passage. First of all, if Christ is central in your life, then your life will be driven by a single purpose: attracting other people to Christ. Dwight L. Moody said, “I look on this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a life-boat, and said to me, ‘Moody, save all you can.’” If Christ is central in your life, then Moody’s perspective on the world is going to be yours as well, and the purpose of sharing the gospel is going to drive every area of your life, including your speech, your conduct, and how you invest your time and money.
Second, if Christ is central in your life, then you will live in a way that’s consistent with your faith. That means the guiding principle of your behavior every day will be this: Does this behavior attract people to the gospel or repel people from the gospel?
Third, if Christ is central in your life, then you will constantly look for opportunities to share your faith. You won’t just sit there waiting for somebody to say, “Could you please tell me how I can go to heaven?” No, if you’re going to make sharing the gospel your purpose, you have to be proactive. For example, let’s say somebody shares with you that they’re having difficulty in their marriage. You should be genuinely empathetic, but then you can share the lasting solution to their problem–a relationship with Christ. Or let’s say somebody is bemoaning the state of our country. You can say, “I’m concerned about our country, but I’m not that upset. Could I share with you why no political leader can ever solve our deepest problems and why I’m looking at another Leader to solve our problems?” Use that opportunity to point to the hope of Jesus Christ.
If you’re making Christ central in your life, you’ll look for any and every opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Jeffress)
