It would be so much better if we consider our witnessing to others as a privilege rather than an obligation…although it is both!  We read of the need of sharing the Gospel in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

We read of the necessity of sharing the Gospel with others in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”  A preacher, or proclaimer, is necessary to tell others of their need of salvation and the free gift of salvation that comes from the Lord. 

We read of the responsibility to share the Gospel in 2 Timothy 4:5, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”  An evangelist is one who tells others how to be saved.  All believers are told to be involved in this work.  Our witness for the Lord is very powerful and can lead all kinds of people to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I said, we should think of it more as a privilege than as a responsibility.  The Lord honors and commends those who are active in winning souls for Christ. We read in Romans 10:15, “…How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”  The Lord honors us when we serve Him faithfully in spreading His word!

May I ask you…are you not concerned about the people around you?  Are you not concerned about the salvation of your family, your neighbors, your fellow workers, etc.? Going back to Romans 10, we read in verse 17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  It is vital that we tell others and share the Word of God with them so they might be saved.  If you are truly a believer, someone probably approached you and witnessed to you of Christ.  Aren’t you appreciative of that?  Aren’t you glad the Lord sent someone to you to tell you of the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross so that through faith in Him, you might be saved?  Don’t you feel a compulsion to tell others?  If you are truly a believer, you should be concerned about the salvation of others.

I encourage you to pray about this.  Ask the Lord to give you a desire to see others saved.  As you realize that people around you need to be saved, I encourage you to pray as Isaiah did in response to the Lord’s words in Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, HERE AM I; SEND ME.”  (CC)  (559.4)