To Encourage You

Titus 2:15 “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

“Some things are better left unsaid,” is a phrase you’ve probably heard. It means that some things, if they are said, will only lead to trouble.  A similar idea is expressed when people say, “It’s ok to discuss anything but religion and politics,” because it seems that those are two things that are so common for people to disagree about and to bring them up risks the possibility of conflict, arguments, and hurt feelings.  However, there are some things that should never be left unsaid, for to do so is a tragedy.  For example, if we see someone headed into a dangerous situation, like a little child about to run into a busy street, it’s not a time keep silent.  Someone needs to speak! 

So, do you realize that God has urged us to speak about certain things?  There are things that He has specifically told us are not to be left unsaid.  In the verse above, we see an example of this. Here, Paul is telling Titus that the things he has been talking to him about in his letter are to, in turn, be spoken about by Titus to the church he led.  He is not to keep silent. He is to speak.  Paul follows this with the command that when he spoke about these things, he was to do it with great urgency. He uses two strong words: exhort, which is the idea of emphatically urging someone to do something, and rebuke, which is the idea of urging someone not to do something, or to express strong disapproval of some action.  Here Paul is giving this young pastor guidance regarding his preaching and teaching ministry. He reminds Titus that God has given him the authority and responsibility to preach and teach the Word of God, and it was to be a focus of his life.  He was not to disregard this urgent matter. 

But the same holds true for each and every person who is a follower of Christ. There are so many things we talk about to others. We talk about the weather, our hobbies, our families, our health, our troubles, etc., etc.  However, one of the things that so many of us neglect to talk about with others is the gospel message that is found only in the Word of God.  This is the one thing that God would have us know that we are to talk about. We are not to leave unsaid the truth of the gospel.  We are not to keep this most wonderful message in all the world to ourselves. 

In Acts 10 and 11 we have the account of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, whom an angel spoke to and told to send for the apostle Peter.  Specifically, the angel said “Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:13-14).  What an awesome thing this was!  Peter had a wonderful message that had the power to save Cornelius and his entire family for all eternity.  It was the message of the gospel. All believers have this very same message, and if we don’t speak it to those in our life, who will?  This greatest story ever told, this good news of salvation which is given to us in the Word of God, is something that is not to be left unsaid. Rather it is to be spoken, clearly spoken, to those whom God has placed in our life.

So, are you doing this? Are there people in your life, perhaps good friends you’ve known for years, or family members that you’ve known all your life, that you’ve never told about Jesus?  If so, know that God would have you to not leave unsaid the message He has given the power to save their souls. 

But it’s never easy. We have a great spiritual enemy who will do everything in his power to discourage us from opening our mouth.  In addition, our own flesh wars against the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). As a result, we are hesitant to share Jesus with others when we know that they very well may not want to listen, and may let us know that in no uncertain terms.  We fear rejection, being seen as too religious, or worse.  Nevertheless, God’s will for us to speak doesn’t change.  We should pray for God to help us, just as Paul asked others to pray for him with these words: “pray . . . for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). 

May God give us that same boldness to keep from the regret of having left unsaid the greatest message ever told, a message that can bring salvation to those who hear.