The Power of Invitation: Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ
A simple text message to friends: "Would you like to meet up for dinner tomorrow night?" The response was equally simple: "Yes, what time and where?"
How long has it been since you offered an invitation to someone?
In the book of II Chronicles, chapter 30:1, we read that "Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel." This was an invitation to a special time of celebration—a moment to come together as God's chosen people to observe the Passover.
As Christians, we may need to work on our "invitation skills." It’s important to step beyond our usual circle of close-knit friends and extend an invitation to others to celebrate and worship our Lord Jesus Christ. In the past, churches often used the term "Evangelism" to describe efforts to go into the community and invite people to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and to come to church. While the term "evangelism" may not be as commonly used today, the need to invite others to Christ and His Church remains ever-present.
Jesus Himself gave a clear command to His disciples in Acts 1:8, where He said: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Notice that Jesus didn’t use the word "evangelism," nor did He specifically say to invite others to church. Instead, He commanded His followers to "be my witnesses"—everywhere and to everyone.
Being a witness means more than simply being present; it requires actively speaking and sharing the truth. Throughout Scripture, there is no indication that Jesus ever told His disciples they had shared enough or that they could stop. We, as His disciples today, are called to continue sharing and inviting others to experience the blessings of knowing and worshiping Jesus.
In today’s world, it could even be as simple as sending a text message, inviting someone to join us in celebration and worship. After all, despite all of our modern technology and progress, the fact remains that people are still lost without Jesus, destined for eternal separation from God. The need to share the Good News has not changed.
Let us remember that the invitation to salvation and community in Christ is one of the most important offers we can extend. Whether through a phone call, a text, or in person, our invitation could be the one that leads someone to the peace and joy found in knowing Jesus.