The good news of  Jesus is the most important message you can share with anyone, but being entrusted with it means that you’re also expected to live it.

 

When I was a student, anytime we did an outreach event with our campus ministry, we referenced this verse, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, “so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Paul shared this with the church at Thessalonica to remind them of how he and his companions loved on them.

 

It wasn’t this flattery message where they were looking to gain praise. There was no trickery, it was a sincere love. Paul cared deeply about these people, and so in order for that to carry out his life had to be shared with them. In fact, you could say that Paul's life validated his message.

 

It’s just like Jesus. He was on this earth with a life-changing message, but it was the life he lived - the love in action - that made the opening for it to be presented. It's been said that people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.

 

If you want to share Jesus, you have to share your life.