“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)
Jesus said this when He sent out His disciples to preach the gospel. Even if you offer a “cup of cold water to one of these little ones,” God will not forget it. Then how much more will God reward those who give the gospel of life to someone?
Scripture says that God has chosen evangelism as the means of salvation: “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor 1:21).
We cannot know God through anything we understand or do. That is why God has given us the good news that Jesus is the Christ. He has chosen us as His instrument to carry the gospel to all nations.
Jesus called us to save lives from eternal destruction—the greatest blessing of all: “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Mt 4:19). All we have to do is follow Him.
He called us not because we were qualified but because He wanted us. He called us to be with us. He wanted to send us out to preach the gospel. To that end, He has given us the power to drive out demons (Mk 3:13-15).
But why did Jesus give us the authority to drive out demons? The whole world is under the control of the evil one (1 Jn 5:19). In Jesus’ name, we drive out demons that have taken over the people’s minds and today’s culture. He has given us the spiritual authority to trample on snakes and scorpions. He will deliver us from all harm. He wants us to bring His healing to those suffering from all kinds of illnesses (Mk 16:15-20).
Thus, we must consider the limited time available for individuals, the present age, and the world. Everything we see now will eventually end when the gospel is told worldwide and spread to every nation (Mt 24:14).
Jesus promised that we would be His witnesses in every part of the world (Ac 1:8). That was His last promise before ascending into heaven after the resurrection. Thus, evangelism must be of the utmost importance in our lives.
Unfortunately, many believers live lives that have nothing to do with evangelism. Some consider evangelism very difficult, and some think it is only for people with unique gifts and training.
But evangelism is a natural life movement for those given life. If the blood of Christ has saved you, evangelism is simply introducing Jesus to others living under the power of the devil (Ac 10:38).
That is why evangelism is one of the greatest blessings given to us. Satan fears evangelism and tries to keep us from proclaiming the gospel. If you know, believe, and confirm that Jesus is the Christ, evangelism will occur in your daily lives. If you are with Christ, enjoying life and power in Him, you won’t be able to help speaking about what you have seen and heard (Ac 4:20).
It is not about doing evangelism or not. The question is how close evangelism is to your lives. Throughout history, God’s time has always been the time of evangelism and missions—saving lives. So, tune your life’s schedule to God’s time of evangelism. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33).
The resurrected Lord has commanded us: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:18); “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”(Mk 16:15); “Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:19); “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Ac 1:8). He is inviting you to a life best lived—the life of the evangelist.
Living the life of the evangelist itself is a blessing. But God will not forget even the most minor thing you do for the sake of the gospel, like giving a cup of cold water. Jesus also promised,
“I can promise that everyone who has left their home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farm for me and the gospel about me will get a hundred times more than they left. Here in this world, they will get more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms. And with these things they will have persecutions. But in the world that is coming they will also get the reward of eternal life” (Mk 10:29-30).
Paul understood the blessing of evangelists which come from above: “worth of knowing Christ Jesus,” “to gain Christ and be found in him,” “to know the power of his resurrection,” “attaining to the resurrection from the dead,” “that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me,” “straining toward what is ahead,” “to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus,” “our citizenship is in heaven” (Php 3:1-21).
To Paul, the people he had saved by the power of the gospel were his greatest reward. Paul anticipated the crown he would be proud of—those who had come to Christ through him. They were his hope and joy (2 Thess 2:19-20).
So, resolve today: only Christ (Ac 1:1), only the kingdom of God (Ac 1:3), only the Holy Spirit, and only Christ’s witness (Ac 1:8). This is everything an evangelist needs to overcome the power of Satan and the world.
Do not be swayed by anything or anybody. Only those who believe Jesus is the Christ overcome the world (1 Jn 5:1-5). Do not be discouraged. The One with all authority in heaven and on earth lives in you. Jesus promised: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt 28:16-20).
Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me as an evangelist for such a time as this. Fill me with Your strength so I may keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.