This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Grateful Hearts GO Together (WATCH HERE)
Romans 1:16–17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Have you ever felt unprepared for an opportunity God placed in front of you? Maybe someone asked you a question about faith, opened up about a personal struggle, or gave you an opportunity to talk about Jesus. You wanted to say something meaningful, but you weren’t sure what to say. Perhaps you worried that you wouldn’t have the right words or that you might not explain things very well.
Sharing our faith can feel intimidating. We may think we need to be more knowledgeable, more confident, or better at talking with people. We might even convince ourselves that someone else would do a better job. But Scripture reminds us of something important: the power of the Gospel isn’t in us. It’s in God’s Word.
Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Notice what Paul doesn’t say. He doesn’t say the Gospel is powerful because of the person sharing it, because of a clever presentation, or because we always have the perfect answer. The Gospel itself is God’s power.
Through the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit works faith in human hearts. God takes the message of our Savior, who died for our sins and rose again, and uses it to bring people from death to life. We don’t create faith. We don’t change hearts. God does that through his Word.
That is an incredible encouragement as we carry out Christ’s great commission! We don’t need to have all the answers or be perfect witnesses. We simply have the privilege of sharing what God has done for us. Sometimes that means telling someone about Jesus. Sometimes it means inviting someone to worship, offering a word of encouragement, or listening to someone who needs hope. Whatever the opportunity, we can trust God to work through his Word.
As Crosspoint looks toward the future, our confidence isn’t found in our abilities, our numbers, or our resources. Our confidence is in the power of the Gospel. The same Word that brought us to faith continues to work through us as we share it with others.
Reflect: What makes you hesitant to share your faith, and how does knowing that the Gospel is God’s power change your perspective?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the powerful message of the Gospel. Through your Word, you have brought us to faith in Jesus and given us the promise of forgiveness and eternal life. Forgive us when we rely too much on our own abilities or allow fear and uncertainty to keep us from sharing your truth. Remind us that the power is not in us, but in your Word. Give us confidence to speak about Jesus with humility, love, and courage. Bless the members of Crosspoint as they share your Word and encourage others in faith. Open doors for the Gospel in our community, and use us individually to reach people who need to hear the good news. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.