The Power of a Simple Message: Sharing the Gospel in Moscow
Sitting on a bus in Moscow, Russia, I observed the people walking up and down the sidewalk. We had been waiting for a few minutes, and it seemed like it would be several more before we could head to our work site. Feeling the urge to do something, I jumped to my feet, grabbed a handful of small spiritual tracts, and stepped off the bus.
Though I didn’t speak Russian, I began handing out tracts to anyone walking by. Within minutes, I found myself surrounded by people eagerly asking for a tract in Russian. I couldn’t hand them out fast enough, and before long, all the tracts we had on the bus were gone. The people were hungry for information.
While I’m not sure if anyone was aware that the tracts were about Jesus Christ, or if they simply wanted something from the visiting Americans, I am confident that many people—whom I will never see again—held a portion of God's Word in their hands. The tracts contained the message of salvation. Whether anyone was saved because of those tracts is known only to God. Whether the Holy Spirit was already at work in the hearts of some of the recipients, and the tracts helped them understand more, again, only God knows.
The Power of One Word
We will never fully know the impact of a simple word or shared message. In 2 Timothy 4:2, we read: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” As children of God, we must always be ready to share our personal testimony or offer a word for God. We are not required to stand in a pulpit or in front of a crowd. Each of us has the opportunity to share what Jesus Christ has done or is doing in our lives. We never know the outcome of these moments, but God does.
The Moment That Changed My Life
I will never forget the night my older brother told me I was going to hell. His words terrified me, and I immediately got out of bed and went to my parents to ask questions. Today, I might not walk up to someone and say, "You're going to hell!" but I should always be ready to share that they have a choice to make.
The Apostle Paul wasn’t perfect, but he wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23: “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” Paul understood the importance of meeting people where they were and sharing the gospel in a way that connected with them.
What Are You Willing to Do?
The question we must ask ourselves is, “What am I willing to do to help someone come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?” We never know what a small act of kindness or a simple word of encouragement can do.
We should always be prepared to share the message of salvation, knowing that God may use even the smallest gesture to touch someone's heart and bring them closer to Him.