Share the Good News by Sharing Life Lessons

Share the Good News by Sharing Life Lessons

Did you know that God not only expects you to know what you believe and why you believe it, but he also expects you to be able to explain what you believe to other people?

In 1 Peter 3:15 the Bible says, “Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.” The hope that is within us is this: When we trust God’s grace to save us through the work of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we’re promised a future home in Heaven.

The chance to tell people about the hope that is in you is all around. Look for the many opportunities God sends your way. The Bible says in Colossians 4:5, “Make the most of your chances to tell others the Good News. Be wise in all your contacts with them.”

Imagine the joy of greeting people in Heaven that you helped get there. The eternal salvation of a single soul is more important than anything else you’ll ever achieve in life. Only people are going to last forever.

In “The Purpose Driven Life,” I explain that one way you can share the Good News is to tell others about the major life lessons you’ve learned from God. To help you do that, ask yourself some questions that will jog your memory and get you started.

For instance,

What has God taught you from failure? (Psalm 51)
What has God taught you from a lack of money? (Philippians 4:11-13)
What has God taught you from pain or sorrow or depression? (2 Corinthians 1:4-10)
What has God taught you through waiting? (Psalm 40)
What has God taught you through illness? (Psalm 119:71)
What has God taught you through disappointment? (Genesis 50:20)

While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. There isn’t enough time to learn everything in life by trial and error. We must learn from the life lessons of one another. The Bible says, “A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than … jewelry made of the finest gold” (Proverbs 25:12).

So ask yourself what has God taught you from your:

Family
Church
Relationships,
Small Group
Critics?

Write down the major life lessons you have learned so you can share them with others.

We should be grateful Solomon did this, because it gave us the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are filled with practical lessons on living. Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other’s life lessons.

Mature people develop the habit of extracting lessons from everyday experiences. I urge you to make a list of your life lessons. You haven’t really thought about them unless you have written them down.

Rick Warren, Daily Hope Radio