Share and Share Alike.
Share and Share Alike
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15 KJV
“Share and share alike” was a saying my grandmother used often when I was growing up as they were raising my brother and I. My brother and I are twins and growing up we were dressed alike, received the same gifts and acted like heathens together. I can’t even imagine what it was like parenting us. We were simply rotten. What my brother had, I had to have. And whatever he had, it had better be shared. We argued constantly over the others possessions, even if it was exactly the same as what I already had.
I heard this idiom for years. I never took thought to what it really meant. It’s a saying that originated in the mid-1500’s and it meant to share the spoils or rewards with every person.
I never would’ve added the two together, the saying and the verse. Wouldn’t have thought twice about it - until now. We are told, by Jesus Himself, to spread the gospel to every creature. There are some that say this command was given to the disciples/apostles and that it wasn’t meant for us - I believe that’s because they shirk their responsibility.
Answer this question honestly - when was the last time you told someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ or talked with them about it. Not necessarily led someone to Jesus, just had a conversation about what He means to you.
Jesus speaks this verse after His resurrection from the dead. It is the first thing He says to the apostles. Must’ve been important. If you died and came back to life three days later, what say you?
I’m not trying to put you on the spot here. Or trying to point the finger at you. Trust me, if you’ve read these devotions, you know I come up short, a lot. We also have a good heart, and that’s where this needs to come from.
Sure, we talk with other Christians about Christ. Or we set aside a day to go soul-winning or visiting. That’s not what I’m talking about.
But, do you need a schedule or a reason to talk to people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you have to have an appointment to share your love for Him? You don’t need to be a life long church member or pastor to talk about Jesus. We have so many tools available to us today.
We talk about modeling ourselves after Him. Being followers of what Jesus was and is to us. We talk about Him being the light. As much as we love the title of being a Christian, what does our life really say about us. What is the center point of our lives?
Our Christianity and our eternal salvation should be our greatest reward. Our richest spoil. Our golden ticket. It should be shared, with EVERY creature.
I have received the gospel, asked Jesus Christ to be my savior and I have given my life over to Him. It changed my life and saved me. So why don’t I share it abundantly?
I don’t have the same reason as I did when I was growing up - because I didn’t want to share. And my brother was mean sometimes.
There is no reason I can think of that we aren’t sharing the gospel on a daily basis. In the last two days I have reached two people from different sides of the United States who are Christians. Strangers. And we have talked about God, our faith and being brothers in Christ. Our draw to each other was our Christianity and secondly our hobbies.
It used to be that my family, work and hobbies were what I was most proud of. At least it’s what I posted on social media 99% of the time or talked about in group settings.
Our priorities can change. God is at the center of my life. Everything else is next. Family, friends, responsibilities. I have found by placing God first, amazing things happen.
Now I watch as my son is reading the Bible every day and he’s excited to come to church and sit on the front row. My wife is reading devotions and reading her Bible daily. And she is a prayer warrior. She prays all the time. We take time together to talk about God, church, our Christianity and what it means to us.
We will all fall short sometimes. But our priority should be our faith in Jesus Christ. It will draw people closer to God when they see how important He is to us.
Reach out to someone today and share a Bible verse with them, tell them you’re praying for them and let them know you love them.
After all, didn’t Jesus spend His life doing that for you?
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
Luke 15:4-6
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
1 Peter 3:15