Tis the season…for family gatherings, company parties, and community festivals. What a great privilege to interact with our friends, family and coworkers. And what an opportunity to commend Jesus the Christ to those you know and love. Holidays, like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s, are given to us that we might make much of Jesus. But the reality is that as you read this your heart rate and breathing probably just increased. You know this is the perfect time to talk about Jesus since it is CHRISTMAS! What’s stopping you? What are you waiting for?

Maybe you’re waiting for an open door; a divine appointment? So many times we think we can’t say anything until things line up perfectly and it falls in our laps, instead God is waiting for us to be obedient to step forward through the open door that has always been open. If both you and your hearer are drawing breath, it is an open door! God has ordained your time and place for a reason. To the world it may seem like an awkward, unfortunate time at a holiday function to speak of Jesus, but Ecclesiastes 7:2 tells us it’s better to be at a funeral than at a feast. When will they be ready to hear of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Take advantage of the already open doors before they are shut (Luke 13:25). What are you waiting for?

Maybe you’re waiting for the fear to go away? Some of the biggest names in Christianity (Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, Paul,) endured their ministry with fear. God may not take away your fear so that He might show that it’s not about you, but Him. Instead God gave you a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). God’s power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Jesus said that he will be with us even until the end of the age. Walk by faith, not by sight or feelings. What are you waiting for?

Maybe you think you don’t know what to say? Christians have a message to proclaim; a message of hope. Sometimes we feel we have to be winsome with wisdom before anyone will hear us, but Scripture says otherwise; simply proclaim the testimony of God in Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). What are you waiting for?

Maybe you feel you don’t know enough? In a high technology age with everything at our fingertips we have no excuse not to be highly educated in the Scriptures. The Bible says we should do our best to be workers rightly handling the Word (1 Timothy 2:15). How much time do you spend on social media and yet neglect nourishing your soul with the Word? What kind of things are you supplementing for the Word of God? Solomon warns us of filling our mind with trivial things instead of God in Ecclesiastes 12:12-14. We have the mind of Christ so let’s use it to instruct our hearers. What are you waiting for?

Maybe you’re nervous that you might offend? Any time you open your mouth and speak the Gospel one of two things are going to happen. Either people are going to get saved or people are going to get offended (2 Corinthians 2:15,16). A prophet has no honor in his hometown. Jesus promised there would be division, even within families (Matthew 10:34-39). Our aim in evangelism is to tell others the message while remaining blameless. Our hearers should only be offended at the message not the messenger. You have no need to be quarrelsome; God has given you a spirit of love and compassion. What are you waiting for?

Maybe you’re thinking you have plenty of time? Do you not know your life is but a vapor (James 4:14; Job 7:7)? If all the hairs on your head are numbered, you can be assured that all your days are numbered as well (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7). Even those who rule nations, like King Belshazzar, their days are numbered by God (Daniel 5:26). What are you actively doing to speak the Gospel into people’s lives? We don’t have plenty of time. All that we have is a gift from God. He’s given us our time, talent and treasure. Use it wisely before you step into eternity. What are you waiting for?

Maybe your reasons are just excuses? We should say like Paul, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” We have Good News of reconciliation and restoration. It is a message that removes pride and despair. And our Father has chosen us, redeemed sinners, to speak of the majesty and worth of His Son. Let joy motive us, humility compel us, and boldness strengthen us. What are you waiting for? Meditate on the truths in Jeremiah 1:7,8 and Mark 16:15 and may they bear fruit in your life. Grace and peace to you this holiday season.