I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. (John 12:50)
WHY IS IT so hard for folks to believe in Jesus Christ? Perhaps, as the saying goes, He is “too good to be true.” Even among His disciples, who walked with Him for three years, there was doubt. The Pharisees on the edge of belief feared repercussions from their peers. Stepping out in faith is risky business.
So how do we effectively deliver the message of salvation to others? Simply by telling them not to take our word for it, but our Father’s Word. Jesus didn’t point to himself as the reason for faith, but to His Father in heaven. We should follow His example. We can’t be the source of others’ believing, but we can lead them to the One who is worthy of believing—God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus bridges the gap between belief and unbelief.
So take the pressure off yourself. It is not up to you to convince others to believe in Christ. Instead, you and I point them to our Lord, who knows their hearts, their doubts, and their fears. We’re to be examples of how their lives can be—not perfect yet, but being perfected. If we give God the glory for what He is doing in our lives, He will make sure our witness is fruitful. We can believe it to be true.
When others are seeking, point them to Christ, not to yourself.
Julie B. Cosgrove is a widowed Christian author and speaker who lives in Fort Worth, Texas. She is involved with women’s and outreach ministries.