The Power of Sharing

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them…Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (excerpts from Luke 7)

When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (Luke 9:10&11)

He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. (Acts 9:29&30)

In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf (Colossians 1:6&7)

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Someone told the woman who lived a sinful life that Jesus was in town. She went to Him, worshipped Him, and was saved.

Someone told a crowd of people that Jesus was in Bethsaida. They went to Him, He welcomed them, He spoke to them, and He healed those who needed healing.

Someone told the believers that the Hellenistic Jews wanted to kill Saul. They took Saul to Caesarea, sent him off to Tarsus, and saved the life of this newly converted prophet of God.

Epaphras told the Colossian believers about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The believers understood God’s grace, and the gospel began to bear fruit and grow among them.

What have the people in your sphere of influence learned from you? Have they learned that Jesus is “in town”? When you have learned of the enemy’s efforts to kill, steal from, and destroy those in your circle, have you sought to save them? Has anyone learned from you about the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The word of God, in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, says “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.”

We may, through just a few words or as part of some collaborative effort, be a part of eternally changing someone’s life. We don’t know the magnitude of how we may influence the world around us by planting a seed or watering one that’s already been planted. Let’s lovingly seek to speak life into those around us and watch God cause the gospel to continue to bear fruit and grow throughout the world.