I work in a little gift/book/coffee shop. Off the Shelf is filled with little treasures and it’s so much fun to visit with people and help them find the exact item they’re looking for.

When we receive new product, it’s like Christmas. Opening each box, each item to see what is inside. For me, it is always a surprise and very exciting to what new item we’re going to place on our shelf.

This week was no different. As I opened a box, it was filled with totes, bags and pouches. One was just a cute as the other. But then I came to a book bag that really had all the right ingredients to make it a great selling item.

It was called the witness back pack. In plain view for all to see were these words. He came. He died. He rose. He ascended. He’s coming back. Each phrase had a symbol to go with it as well. I thought it was a great way to share the Gospel.

It’s a way for others to ask questions. Questions like, “Who is ‘he?’” “Where did ‘he’ go?” “Where did ‘he’ come from?” “Why did ‘he’ come?” “When is ‘he’ coming back?”

And through answering all of these questions, the Gospel message is being shared. And as the conversation continues, the question we all love to hear will be asked. “What must I do to be saved?”

Throughout the Gospels and the Book of Acts we find this question being asked. The question may not be worded exactly as above, but the question is the same. “I’m lost. What do I need to do?”

Let’s look at some of these conversion accounts to see what the question was and the response.

Jesus taught a Pharisee named Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) at night. Nicodemus had all the right questions and Jesus was the answer. Jesus first made the statement, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3 – NIV) Then Nicodemus asked, “How can someone be born when are old?” (John 3:4 – NIV) Jesus continued with His teaching and while we don’t know what Nicodemus decided, we know he asked the question and he got the answer.

While sitting by a well in Samaria, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman (John 4:42). Through their discourse, she asked a few questions. “Where can you get this living water?” (John 4:11 – NIV) “Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29 – NIV) Not only did the woman believe, but many from the town believed as well.

Jesus healed a man of blindness if John 9:1-12. The Pharisees questioned the healed man and had could not understand why the man believed that Jesus was a prophet. After being thrown out, Jesus encountered the man again. Jesus asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John 9:35 – NIV) Then the man asked, “Who is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in him.” (John 9:36 – NIV) This man believed. He knew who had healed him. It was Jesus.

We find similar questions and accounts in the Book of Acts.

This question was asked when Peter delivered his first message in Acts 2. “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37 – NIV)

Philip encountered an Ethiopian and we find this question. “Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’” (Acts 8:30 – NIV)

Saul asked a question when he saw Jesus. “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5 – NIV) Jesus’ response to Saul was, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:5-6 – NIV)

Paul and Silas had been flogged severely and thrown into prison at Philippi (Acts 16:22-34). While they continued to witness through prayer and singing, an earthquake shook the prison and all the prisoners were released from their chains. The jailer was about to kill himself when Paul and Silas told him all the prisoners were accounted for. The jailer then asked a question that would change his life forever. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30 – NIV)

We know that these questions were all followed by obedience to God. They accepted Jesus for who He was and for what He could do for them.

But there were others who asked a question and the response wasn’t positive.

In Matthew 19, Jesus hears a question from a rich young man. “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16 – NIV) After hearing Jesus’ response, we find the young man leaving (Matthew 19:22). He was very sad because he wasn’t willing to do what Jesus had asked him to do. He chose not to accept eternal life.

After the miracle of feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-15), Jesus went to the other side of the lake in His own miraculous way. But the crowd followed. When they found Him they asked this question. “What must we do to do the works God’s requires?” (John 6:28 – NIV) Jesus’ response was, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29 – NIV)

Later in this chapter we find that this group abandoned Jesus and His teaching. When Jesus’ teaching grew difficult to accept or difficult to follow, they turned back and no longer followed Him.

While it is difficult for me to understand walking away from Jesus, there are many who do. The only thing we can do is continue dialogue with them and pray for them. Pray that maybe someone else will come into their life who can proclaim God’s message to them.

This back pack is just one way that we can share the Gospel message with others. I don’t know that I will purchase one (I really do have plenty of bags already), but someone will and someone will use it to spread the Gospel and be an influence for God in their realm.

How are you sharing the Gospel message with others? Remember we are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). It’s our responsibility to share this message. I pray that God will open doors and create opportunities for each of us to do just that.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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