Bible Reading: John 1:1-13

To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

GOOD NEWS doesn’t get any better than this. While we human beings were still blinded by Satan and trapped in darkness and separated from God because of our unforgiven sin-no small set of problems-Jesus Christ stepped forward and paid the penalty for our sin. He bridged the gap between us and God (see Romans 5:8; 1 Tim­othy 2:5). God, the righteous Judge, had seen that our enormous sin problem left us with no way to pay the penalty ourselves. The price, after all, is eternal death! So he paid the penalty for us through the death of his Son. Then Jesus rose from the dead, guaranteeing eternal life and making it possible for him to live in us by the Holy Spirit. That’s how we experience the fulfilling, powerful life he planned for us in the first place.

But as fantastic as it is, the gospel really won’t be good news to your friends un­til they respond to it. The gospel is more than information about God’s provision in Christ. It’s an invitation to trust Christ by faith and welcome him as Savior and Lord.

The apostle John says that responding to Jesus is the whole reason he wrote down his account in a Gospel: “These [facts about Christ] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life” (John 20:31). As you spread the good news, your presentation becomes complete only when you ask your friends to admit they need Christ’s forgiveness.

Listen to what needs to happen: “To all who believed him and accepted him,” John 1:12 states, “he gave the right to become children of God.” Jesus says, “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends” (Revelation 3 :20). Spot the response re­quired in these verses? Your friends won’t become Christians simply by osmosis-by hanging around you. Coming to Jesus takes a response of trusting their lives to him.  If you’re not ready to ask them to make a decision, you’re not fully prepared to share the Good News.

Remember: Your job is to explain the gospel and invite people to respond. You can’t control how people will respond. That’s why you share Christ -asking the Holy Spirit to use you-and then leave the results to him. He’s the one who takes your words and uses them to convince people they need Christ.

REFLECT: Are you ready to share with your friends not only the information of the Good News but also the invitation to trust Christ? The Holy Spirit can help you do both.

PRAY: Tell God you want his power for witnessing.

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