“Do you have a systematic plan at your church to tell others about Jesus?” My friend and mentor Calvin Miller startled me with his question. He knew the answer before he asked. When I began to hem and haw, he said, “I can tell you don’t. Why don’t you?”
The religious leaders in Jerusalem settled on commanding the disciples not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Here was their logic: ”Stop talking about the man we killed on a cross and we will not kill you. Deal or no deal?” What would the disciples say? What would we say? We have to live, right? Do we?
Peter and John answered to a higher authority than the supreme court of religion in Jerusalem. They did not say, “O.K. We will stop, then. Thank you for letting us live.” No. They said, “We have to do what is right in God’s eyes by listening to him instead of you.” Above the din of the Sadducees shouting voices and rattling sabers, the disciples heard the clarion call of God’s voice. They had heard and seen Jesus. He had saved them. They knew he could save others. They must speak.
On a Facetime call with my four-year-old granddaughter this morning, she shared her memory verse with me: “Tell others about Jesus.” Then she said, “We love Jesus so much so we want everybody to know him.” I know what you are thinking. That is easy for her to say. On behalf of my friend Calvin, may I ask, “Do you have a plan to tell others about Jesus?” If not, why don’t you?
