Probably most of us know the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Or as it’s said in the Bible: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
Usually we think about this verse in connection with being nice to others, like siblings and other people we are around. But today we’re going to be looking at this verse as it relates to sharing the Gospel.
I first thought of this connection between the Golden Rule and evangelism the other day when I was reading A Handful of Stars by F. W. Boreham.
In his chapter about James Chalmers, the famous missionary martyr, he had this to say, “They, too, having listened, proclaim; having received, give; having heard, say; having been auditors, have now become orators. They have read and therefore they run. Having believed with the heart, they therefore confess with the mouth. This is not only a law of life; it is the law of the life everlasting. It is only by loyalty to this golden rule, on the part of all who hear the Spirit and the Bride say Come, that the kingdoms of this world can become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. It is the secret of world-conquest; and, besides it, there is no other.”
How Does the Golden Rule Apply?
How did you become a Christian? I don’t know the exact story of how you came to see your need to be saved from your sins and that Jesus was the only way you could be saved. But I do have a pretty good idea of how it happened. Someone spoke to you about your need of salvation. It could have been a parent, sibling, Sunday School teacher, friend, or complete stranger.
Or maybe it wasn’t a spoken word. Maybe you read a book or tract that told you how to be saved. However it happened, it likely involved someone else. Now, aren’t you immensely grateful for the person God used to lead you to Him?
Here’s my next question: What are you doing to reach other people with the good news of Salvation?
Our verse says, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” So if we are truly obeying it, we will be witnessing for Jesus every opportunity we get. Knowing what you know about Jesus, God’s free gift of salvation, and the penalty of sin, if you were a lost person, wouldn’t you want someone to warn you of the danger you were in?
Aren’t you grateful that someone did warn you of the danger you were in? Aren’t you grateful for God’s love, and the peace and joy that comes of being a Christian? Then it’s time to follow the Golden Rule and share the Gospel with others.
The world is full of lost people, perishing without Jesus as their Savior, forever separated from Him, and it is our calling as Christians to do all we can to keep these poor, lost people from going into eternity without having been warned.
We can’t save them; only God can do that, and only if they ask Him to. But we can warn them, so that when we stand before God, He will not ask us why we did not do more to reach the lost.
Conclusion
Let’s each one of us pray for a renewed and passionate desire to reach the lost, for God to give us a fresh and lasting desire to see each and every person we meet come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
And if you need some ideas for evangelizing, go check out this blogpost where I share some simple evangelizing ideas.
