Trying to impress others is not always a good practice. Typically we end up sharing a distorted version of ourselves. Then we sell ourselves short because people do not get to know the real you, which is much better than the facade. We read in 1 Corinthians that Paul was not trying to impress people through his preaching. His focus was Jesus. What He wanted to share with others was Jesus.
Paul mentions that when he was preaching before a crowd of people he felt inadequate. He realized how important his words were as he shared Jesus and it made him tremble. There is no plan B. Remember, God wants for all to be reconciled to Him. We each were given the extraordinary task of sharing Jesus with others. Oh what a responsibility! He didn’t want to mess it up. Too often, what slows us down in life is trying to impress others to like us. We take this a step further when we try to impress others to come to Christ. We feel like we need to sell Christ to others — that we need to talk Him up so others will accept Him. We want to share the eloquent speech, lofty wisdom, etc., to impress others and make people be drawn to Jesus. We act as if it’s our words that have the saving power.
Let us remember today that sharing Jesus is not so smooth and crafty, and certainly is not about trying to persuade people. Life is gritty and our Savior meets us in our mess and offers us forgiveness, restoration, and new life. Our words are not supposed to impress others. Our life testimony is to point to Jesus and then the Spirit of God does the rest. Instead of trying to string together fancy words of wisdom, instead of trying to sound like David or Solomon, may you instead be full of grace and truth as you share the love of Jesus with God’s Word and your life testimony. Your story of Jesus always begins with where He found you and the story continues as you grow in Him. God’s Word and your life lived for Jesus, will always be more fruitful.
“My brothers and sisters, when I first came to proclaim to you the secrets of God, I refused to come as an expert, trying to impress you with my eloquent speech and lofty wisdom.For while I was with you I was determined to be consumed with one topic—Jesus, the crucified Messiah.I stood before you feeling inadequate, filled with reverence for God, and trembling under the sense of the importance of my words.The message I preached and how I preached it was not an attempt to sway you with persuasive arguments but to prove to you the almighty power of God’s Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:1-4 TPT).
Thank you Jesus for Your Word and my testimony. Continue to have Your way in my life. Spirit, guide my words. Help me to share Your grace and truth with others today. Lord, loosen my tongue so I can proclaim Your Truth. Keep me out of the way as I point to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Tania Gutekunst 