James was talking about Jesus with Kerri. He told her she was cut off from God because of her selfishness, and that Jesus had died and risen to make her part of God’s family again. She kept coming up with one reason not to trust Jesus for herself: “But if I do trust Him, I won’t have to tell other people about it, will I? I don’t want to do that.” She said that didn’t fit her personality; she didn’t want to have to tell others about Jesus.

James explained that we don’t have to do anything to be allowed to trust Jesus. There’s no ‘requirement’ to tell others about Jesus in order to trust Him for ourselves. But he also said that once she came to know Jesus, Kerri would become an example of Him for the world to see (2 COR. 5:20).

After talking a little longer, Kerri knew she needed Jesus to give her a new life with God. She went home excited and at peace. Then a funny thing happened—within a couple of days she told three people about what God had done in her life.

Because we have been brought back to God through Jesus, we now have “the ministry of reconciliation” (V.18). We are witnesses of His love, forgiveness and welcome. And so, having experienced Him for ourselves, we’ll naturally want others to find Him too (V.20)!

When we’re thankful for Jesus, we’ll want to share what God has done.

By: Ames Chen

To Pray About . . .

Lord, I want to tell others about you. Please give me wisdom and courage to do so.