April 30 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 8–9; Luke 21:1–19

Fearlessly Telling

Pray also for me, . . . so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19

READ Ephesians 6:18–20

Scottish minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813–43) loved to preach God’s Word from the pulpit. Yet he realised it was one thing to speak the gospel to fellow Christians who hung on his every word, but quite another to share it with non-Christians who seemed disinterested or even aggressive. Wrestling with God’s call to evangelise, he realised he was putting too much value on the opinions of others. What did he do? He prayed, knowing that freedom from worrying over the “esteem or contempt” of others “must be given from the Lord”.

Fearing how others might react to our Christian witness appears to be one of the “devil’s schemes” to make us ineffective (Ephesians 6:11). That’s why Paul asked his readers, “Pray also for me . . . that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (v. 19). Note that Paul wrote from prison, and that sharing the gospel wasn’t just losing him friends, it was gaining him powerful enemies who sought his death. Yet despite the pressure, he said: “Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (v. 20 ). Paul knew in the face of contempt that prayer was the key to speaking boldly and joyfully about Jesus.

Does a fear of how others could react stop you from sharing your faith? By prayer God will help us value His Word above the opinions of others, giving us all we need to declare Him fearlessly.

By Chris Wale

How could you overcome any fear you may have of how other people will react to your faith? What do you think it looks like to share your faith fearlessly?

Loving God, help me value Your opinion more than anyone else’s. Give me boldness to tell others about all that You have done in my life.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Writing from prison, Paul ignored his physical hardships and instead warned of the spiritual nature of the battle we wage: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The weapons for this battle are defensive (vv. 14–17), with one exception—“the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17 ). Our real battle is spiritual, and God’s Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for this struggle. Therefore, we’re to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” (v. 18).