By: Rita Early
“…for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Romans 10:13-15
The other day as I strolled through my neighborhood wearing a t-shirt that read “My Rabbi Walks on Water,” I heard a voice say, “You know, some people might find that shirt offensive.”
I shrugged it off and wore the shirt anyway to my chiropractic appointment. The doctor and staff are Christians, so who was there to offend? While I sat in the waiting room, the woman next to me glanced at my shirt and said conspiratorially, “So, who’s your rabbi?”
I froze. “Um…Jesus,” I said. It never occurred to me that someone might mistake me for Jewish! I began to ramble on. “You know, Jesus was a Jew. It’s a reference to Jesus. I’ve been watching The Chosen on Netflix. It’s really good. Have you seen it?”
She shook her head no.
“Are you Jewish?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
Oh my word, I thought. Have I just managed to offend her? But the Holy Spirit intervened and calmed my nerves. “I’m so sorry for what happened in Israel. Do you have family there?”
“No, but my husband does,” she said.
“I’ll be praying for you and your husband’s family.”
She smiled and was then whisked away to an examining room.
The enemy instantly condemned me for not praying for her on the spot, for not leading her to Christ, for not inviting her to church and for wearing that shirt. On the way home, I cried. She had no idea that Jesus was God and had walked on water, that He could save her and her people because they were His people and He loved them and had died and resurrected. And I had failed to “properly” share the gospel.
Not long after, I heard Pastor Amy Hafner say this on Where Do You Want To Hide?: “You do not have enough power to mess up the plans of our good Father.” Her own testimony comforted me.
Months later, I still get choked up, but God revealed to me that He was pleased.
Matthew 11:25 says, “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.’”
The enemy had criticized my tiny attempt to share the gospel, but God revealed the eternal impact.
Romans 10:13-15 says, “…for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
With the recent devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, there will be plenty of people in need of the good news. Will we let fear hold us back, or will we invite the Holy Spirit in and share?