We too have been chosen to be disciples of God, to spread the Good News concerning the coming of the Kingdom. Although we might be afraid that we are not up to the task, much as Jeremiah was God promises to help us just as he did with Jeremiah.
Without the witness of the early disciples, we would not know of Jesus. Without our witness, how will future generations come to know Jesus?
How will we know what to say? What will others think about us? These might be questions that hold us back, but God is by our side helping us, giving us the words we need at the right time.
Our job is to look for opportunities. So many times we can be talking to a stranger and the conversation turns to God. We can have a wonderful conversation about our faith, our trust and confidence in God.
Sometimes these conversations begin when a friend tells us about a loved one being sick and we offer to pray for them.
Once I was on the phone with a friend who was a minister who would be speaking at my church and she told me that her mother was very ill and that she was in danger of death, and in fact, did die before my friend came to speak. I offered to pray for her and she asked me to pray with her there and then over the phone.
I had never been in that situation before, but said a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance, and the words she needed to hear were there.
Sometimes the opportunity comes after a political ad or speech. More often a discussion might evolve because of a tragedy, either from a weather incident or after one of the many terrorist attacks the world has dealt with in the past few years.
In any case, it's important for us to be open about our faith and also willing to listen to the views of others. We have been appointed; we need to accept the responsibility to spread the Good News.
