READ: MATTHEW 28:16-20; ROMANS 10:14-15; 1 PETER 3:15-16

In the Bible, Jesus commissioned His disciples to tell people about Him. As Christians, that is our commission too. And, personally, it’s one area I’ve struggled with. You see, I’m not an extrovert. In fact, there have been times when I’ve wondered if my voice is actually being heard at all. I’ve never imagined myself as the outspoken Peter or the zealous Paul, who both spoke passionately about their devotion to Jesus and His teachings in front of large crowds.

When I was younger, there were many times I worried about not being able to share Jesus with others in the same wonderful ways I’d heard preachers do. It would have been easy for me to give up, thinking, “What use am I to God? Why can’t I be like the courageous witnesses I’ve seen openly professing their faith?”

Now I am older, and I’ve realized that God, the Creator, knows exactly who I am. He knows my strengths and weaknesses. So I write about faith, trials, and dilemmas in the hope that it helps a reader follow Jesus in this broken world we live in, or even trust in Him for the first time.

All of us are called to share Jesus, but all of us have different skills that enable us to reach out to a variety of personalities. Witnessing doesn’t have to look like speaking in front of large groups, and it doesn’t have to be on a platform. It can be in the songs we sing, the words we write, or the loyalty and patience we have. Most of all, it is the kind actions and the integrity we show in our everyday lives that are a testimony to God, who loves us dearly. • Cindy Lee

• How might God be inviting you to share Jesus with other people? There are many different ways we can reach out in a troubled world. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about this. Additionally, who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you discern the Holy Spirit’s guidance and tell you what gifts and skills they see in you?

• How did you hear the good news of Jesus? Was it through your family, friends, a preacher, books, or some other way?

Then he [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (CSB)

READ: JOHN 1:12; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17; GALATIANS 2:20; 1 PETER 2:9

What am I? I thought as I stared down at my hand, now covered in words written in permanent ink. Cruel words, words that had been carved into my heart for years, now written all over my hands—they stabbed me, again and again, like knives in my heart.

This can’t be who I am. I thought desperately. Lazy, slow, fat, short, stupid, weak… Every word stung with fresh pain when I looked at it. Insult after insult, crawling up my fingers and over my knuckles like ugly insects.

Oh, God, no. This can’t be who I am. Where had the prayer come from? How had God come into this? God didn’t belong here, with this hand, covered in my failures; with this heart, full of bitter self-hate. But I looked out the window, over the bare trees reaching for the open sky, flushed pink with the evening sun. I was kneeling on the floor, crushed beneath the weight of the letters on my hand. What am I, God?

This isn’t who you are, Becca. I blinked at the soft whisper in my heart. That writing isn’t you. That writing is what they think of you. It isn’t what defines you. I will tell you what you are. You are beautiful. You are strong. You are treasured… Above all, you are loved. Replace those words with My words, Becca. All that matters is what I think of you, what I say of you. Because I know you. And I love you.

“Okay, God,” I sobbed. “But it’s so hard. These words—they won’t just go away.”

By My power, they can. Slowly and painfully, they will leave as you replace them with My words. It won’t be easy. But I will help you. I will remind you. I will love you.

I looked up, back out the window at the setting sun. I lifted my hand and looked at the words, feeling their sting. No. I picked up a red marker from the floor. I opened my hand and, right over my palm, wrote the words, YOU SAY.

The red ink, like Christ’s blood, covered some of the letters of shame on my hand. A sense of calm that I hadn’t felt in a long time settled over me. And while I knew it wouldn’t be easy, little by little, the poison of the words of shame would give way to the peace of the red letters, of what God thought of me. I would let His words guard me from the sting of lies. God would define me. I am what You say of me. • Rebecca Roskamp

• What letters of shame have you been carrying? Consider taking a moment to bring these to Jesus.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. Psalm 139:1 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 18:15, 21-35; COLOSSIANS 3:13

Have you been hurt by something someone said to you lately? Maybe you were left wondering how they could have been so insensitive. In my own life, I recently experienced a family tragedy. To make matters worse, one of my relatives said something unkind to me.

I thought about how I should react. Should I just get angry and bitter? The verse Matthew 18:15 spoke to me: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Instead of getting angry and complaining, I decided to let my relative know how I felt. Since we live far away from each other, I texted her. I simply let her know that, even though I assumed she had no intention of hurting me, I felt hurt when I heard what she said. We should instead pray about God’s will for my family. She realized her mistake and stopped all those unkind remarks!

In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells a parable of a servant who owes a large debt to his master, but his master has mercy on him and forgives the whole thing! But then, this servant acts unmercifully, attacking a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller debt. Jesus calls us to be merciful and show grace to others. God has forgiven our sins, and so we should forgive others. I know that sometimes I say wrong things too, and God has forgiven me. I could have lashed out at my relative, but instead I chose to give her grace because God has shown me grace. We all need the grace of God, and I was glad this matter was resolved in a peaceful way.

It’s important to direct our focus on the grace of God and what He has done for us, and not on the people who have hurt us. For all we know, they may have already confessed their sin to God and received His forgiveness for what they did to us! In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Let us think more about Jesus and His love and sacrifice for us. • Kelly Choy

• Have you ever told someone that their words hurt you? How did it go?

• Can you think of a time you said something you regretted? God has so much mercy on us, and through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He has already made the way for us to be forgiven. If you have the chance, consider apologizing to the person you said those hurtful things to.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6 (NIV)