Once I believed God’s Word and experienced the victories it brought to my life, I had a natural desire to speak His Word and share this important part of my life with my family and friends. These people were very close to me in heart. Because I cared deeply about them and wanted them to have God’s very best, I considered how I could present God’s Word to them so that they too could receive His promises. And I found a few keys that can be helpful to all of us. To make speaking the Word a part of our life with our family and friends, we share our victories with them, we prepare what we will say, we choose an environment where everyone is comfortable to converse and listen to one another, and then we are faithful to follow up with them.
II Corinthians 2:14:
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Family and friends often share their personal victories with one another, so naturally, we share what God has done for us in various aspects of our lives. If our family and friends have a hunger for God, hearing of our victories may inspire their desire to believe Him to help them as well.
I Peter 3:15:
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 [respect].
It can be very profitable to prepare what we will say. We include scriptures that helped us believe to gain victories in our lives. And we think of verses for each individual that may personally bless them and help them handle any situations they are dealing with. Having an abundance of God’s Word dwelling in our hearts equips us to share what God is able and willing to do.
Colossians 3:16:
Let the word of [pertaining to] Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Another key that I find works very well is to choose an environment where it will be comfortable for everyone to converse and listen to one another. This key is an element in Acts 18 when Aquila and Priscilla reached out to Apollos. Though Apollos was “mighty in the scriptures,” Aquila and Priscilla knew additional, essential truths that he had not yet been taught.
Acts 18:26:
And he [Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts by Dr. George M. Lamsa reads, “…they took him to their home….” Here in their home, a less formal setting than the synagogue, they could comfortably share their additional understanding of God’s Word with him. Sharing God’s Word with our family and friends in a setting where we are all comfortable makes it easier for us to discuss our heartfelt beliefs. In this setting our friends and family may feel freer to express a need. As we listen with our heart, we can share promises from God’s Word that answer their need. We can also pray with them, lifting their need to God’s care.
Another important key in speaking God’s Word to anyone is to follow up.
Acts 14:21,22:
And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith.…
Just as Paul and Barnabas followed up with those to whom they had spoken the Word, we too can use this key of following up on our initial conversations with family and friends. We can let them know we are looking forward to talking further. Within a week, it’s great to text them a scripture, send them a note, or call them to touch base. And, of course, we want to stay faithful to pray for them. Although it may take time for them to accept the greatness of God’s Word in their hearts to the point that they walk out on it, we can already enjoy the blessing of having enriched our relationship by basing it more on the Word. So we stay faithful to love them and share the Word of Life; the love of God never fails.
Our family and friends are dear to us and we want to enjoy speaking God’s Word with them, thus deepening our relationships. Some keys to doing this are sharing our victories with them, preparing what we will say, and choosing an environment where everyone is comfortable to converse and listen to one another. Then we follow up, keeping the door open for further discussion. As we deepen our relationships with our family and friends by speaking God’s Word with them, we are giving them the wonderful opportunity to respond to God’s Word and to enjoy a victorious life.