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My Greatest Passion

I've never been one to view life from an easy chair. I want to be in the thick of things up to my kneecaps. I like to be engaged. The last thing I want is to float through life down a lazy river. I want to live like I'm on a Harley roaring down a backcountry road, gripping the handles and feeling the wind in my face, the rumble of the engine, and the vigor of being fully alive.

I have one passion, though, that leaves all the rest in the dust: proclaiming the gospel. I'm never more in the action than when I'm telling people the good news. Every time I do, I feel a spiritual wind blowing—God's powerful Spirit moving and transforming lives. I sense a spiritual battle raging, and I'm right in the middle of it! What could be more invigorating?

A friend of mine once asked Billy Graham, "What do you feel when you give an invitation?" He responded, "I feel like power is going out of me."

I know the feeling! I present the gospel virtually every time I preach, because power pulsates in it. I can sense it! The apostle Paul could too:

For I am not ashamed of the Good News about Christ.
It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

The same power that first pushed up the mountains moves within the simple words of the gospel: Jesus died for sinners and is alive today. Believe in Him, receive His forgiveness, and follow Him into the life God intended .

There's no reason to be sheepish about sharing this life-changing message. People need it! Yet, sharing the gospel is risky. I get that.

Talking about Christ means stepping onto a battlefield, and you must decide if you're ready.

When I did my stint in the Marine Corps, I distinctly remember dropping my sea bag on the floor of that Quonset hut on the Island of Okinawa, thinking: Before I even put my clothes in this little foot locker, I've got to decide whether or not I'm going to walk with Christ. Was I going to be His witness there, at "the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8) . . . or keep my mouth shut and blend in?

Silence always seems like the easiest way, doesn't it? Our culture doesn't just push aside our faith; it aggressively assaults it. The battle for souls is deep and constant. Many people have walked in darkness their entire lives, and the forces of darkness will mobilize to keep those souls.

But then suddenly they become aware of the light at the end of the tunnel—Christ calling them to Himself. When people respond, it's the most remarkable moment. It's the power of God, and we get to participate in it!

May I give you four tips to spark your passion for sharing the gospel? First, ask the Lord for assistance. Dark, sinister forces conspire against the gospel. Unbelievers are blinded to the truth by Satan himself (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ask the Lord to open their hearts (Acts 16:14)!

Second, think through an approach ahead of time. Write out several that would work. Put yourself in a lost person's shoes and think, What's my world like? Start where people are, and walk them to an island across that bridge they've never taken. Make them want to travel with you.

Third, keep it simple. Tell the other person what it's like to get right with God and have a satisfying relationship with Him—how it feels to be spiritually fed. You know where to find food that fills you like none other. The person you're talking to has never tasted this kind of food. If you serve the truth in an appealing way, very few will say, "No, thanks. I'm gonna live on scraps." Most folks are desperately lonely, struggling with shame and guilt, heartbreak and failure. They're hungry for the hope the gospel offers.

Finally, don't be afraid to share the cracks in your own life and the difference Christ makes. People will identify with that and want what you have.

Remember, when you share, they won't just hear your voice. They will hear the voice of Christ and feel the tug of the Spirit. There's no greater power than an invitation of love from our gracious Savior.

I promise—once you participate in the power of the gospel, you'll never want to stop. Are you ready to catch the passion?