The Most Loving Thing You'll Ever Do
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, thank You for a new week and a fresh chance to love others well. Soften any fear in my heart today and replace it with Your love. Amen.
“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’” Romans 10:13-15 (NLT)
REFLECT:
In 2009, outspoken atheist Penn Jillette shared a surprising encounter. After a show, a businessman respectfully offered him a New Testament. Though Penn remained an atheist, he recorded a video defending the man's actions: "I've always said that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell, and you think it's not worth telling them because it would make it socially awkward… how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?"
An atheist was saying what Christians sometimes forget: if we really believe what we claim, our silence toward unbelievers isn't respectful—it's profoundly unloving. Today's reading makes it plain: people can't believe in Jesus unless they hear about Him. And they can't hear unless someone speaks.
We often have quick, familiar reasons for not sharing: "I don't want to offend anyone." "I'm afraid I won't have all the answers." "I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity." These concerns feel valid. But in light of eternity, they begin to look more like excuses than reasons.
At its heart, evangelism is love in action. When we share the gospel, we place someone's eternal welfare above our momentary discomfort. We risk awkwardness or rejection because we care. "Christ's love compels us," Paul said (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV). When we grasp how deeply God loves people—enough to send Jesus to die for them—we'll find strength to speak up.
Like the man who approached Penn, we're called to offer the greatest gift we've received—even if it's rejected. Love will be seen. Today's rejection might plant the seed for tomorrow's awakening. The most loving thing you'll ever do isn't keeping quiet to keep peace. It's caring enough to speak the truth, even when it costs you something.
APPLY:
Pray For Your One
- 1. Ask God to replace any fear of sharing your faith with a love for your One that is stronger than your fear of awkwardness or rejection.
- 2. Pray for boldness today—not aggressive boldness, but the kind that comes from genuinely caring about someone's eternal wellbeing.
- 3. Ask God for a specific opportunity to speak to your One about Jesus this week—even if it's just one honest sentence about what your faith means to you.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will pray and share my life with my One
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, forgive me for times I've stayed silent out of fear instead of speaking from love. Help me see evangelism not as duty but as love in action—an overflow of Your heart in me. Give me courage to care more about others' eternity than my own comfort. Help me speak with gentleness, respect, and boldness. And when I'm tempted to shrink back, remind me: how much do I have to love someone to tell them about eternal life? Thank You for Your Spirit, who empowers me. In Jesus' name, amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.