I have a friend in Pretoria who, like me, is like a child at heart when it comes to new technology. He taught me about inserting small electronic boards in the motors of gates, garage doors, pool pumps and even my irrigation. 

My kids just always shake their heads because it’s actually my party trick. As everyone is relaxing, I grab my mobile phone and say: “Siri, irrigation on” and boom! the sprinklers push up through the grass and everyone must jump to avoid being sprayed. 

Then I get excited and tell everyone how easy it is and offer to help them install it too. And soon quite a few of them are also talking on their phones to get chores done around the house. 

When visiting my friend in Pretoria, he heard about my microphone system’s receiver that ended up in the water. That meant it wasn’t working so well. He did some research on the internet and learned about all the new features in the second version. 

He is sensitive to the voice of the Lord and bought me one. His eyes sparkled when I walked in after the day’s work. Excited, he gave it to me as a gift. “Why did you take so long to come home?!” 

I got tears in my eyes because the struggle was over. Me (and my friend) couldn’t wait to open the package. We carefully took out each unit, looked at it from all sides, and even read the owner’s manual to find out all it could do. 

We watched more YouTube videos and if a commentator dared to express even a little criticism, we’d roll our eyes: “Oh, that guy knows nothing!” Everywhere we went, I showed the power pack of a microphone system to those who wanted to hear and understand and also to those who didn’t have the faintest idea what it was about. 

Then I wonder why we don’t do the same and get excited about the news of Jesus our Savior of Life. The guys who experienced and saw Jesus on earth were quite different: 3We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus’ coming to earth and what He did here for all mankind is certainly life-changing. It’s lifesaving! It keeps people from walking the wrong path to their death. 

This news is so much bigger than the biggest new technology. It brings about so much more change in people’s lives. Actually, it saves people’s lives. We are part of it. We are saved. 

And yet we don’t tell everyone. It’s not our party trick. 

I hang my head in shame and wonder how many people have missed the bus because I talk more about my new technology than the life-saving news. 

Let us not be discouraged, but rather try again. Let’s share the good news with everyone we meet. Some will laugh at us, but others may just laugh all the way to heaven with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Scripture
1 John 1:1-4 

Reflection
What did Jesus’ salvation do to you?
What is your party trick?
Who should you not tell the news to? 

Prayer
Lord, I would like to have the boldness to share the Good News about Jesus’ salvation with everyone. Please help me where I need encouragement. Amen.