Don't Say No For Them

Sunday's coming.  But a lot of the people in your life feel like it'll be Friday forever.

Know what I mean?

Friday - the day that love was crucified; the day that the cold, silent tomb became a reality; the day when all hope seemed to be lost.  This is the way things are for a lot of the people in your life.  It's just one disappointment and painful experience after another.  There is no hope.

But Sunday's coming.  Literally.  The day when we celebrate the greatest news in the history of the world.  So what are you doing to make sure somebody who's stuck on Friday knows the Good News of Sunday?

In today's reading from Luke 10, Jesus sends out his disciples to do the work of ministry.  He's sending them out to a plentiful harvest where the workers are few (v.2).  He's sending them out as sheep among wolves (v.3).  He's sending them out in peace (v.5).  He's sending them out to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom (v.9).  As he's sending them, he's telling them how hard it will be.

Maybe you've tried to share Jesus with a friend, neighbor, co-worker or family member and you know how hard it is.  Maybe you've thought about it, but decided that it's too hard.  

When we balk at the opportunity, we're saying "No," for them.  Even before we ask them to join us at church; even before we offer to pray for them; even before we try to share the hope of Jesus with them, we've already said "No," for them by coming up with every excuse as to why we should just mind our own business.

If you're a follower of Jesus, sharing the Good News isn't optional.  It's what Jesus commands us to do.  Just as he said, "Go!" to his disciples 2,000 years ago, he's saying "Go!" to you today.

Don't make excuses.  Make a way.  Pray for the people in your life who are stuck on Friday and for opportunities to tell them that Sunday's coming.  Don't come to worship alone this Sunday.  Don't just invite your friends to come.  Offer to pick them up.  Take them out for breakfast.  Invite them to your family's Easter dinner.  This is one of your greatest opportunities to find a reason to help them say "Yes!"  Not just "yes" to coming to church with you, but "yes" to Jesus.  Don't say "No," for them.