27th February 2026

Fearless Evangelism

[Pray] for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth

boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel.  

Ephesians 6:19 

Today's Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:14-20.

Scottish Reformed Church minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813–43) loved to preach God’s Word from the pulpit. Yet he realised it was one thing to speak the gospel to fellow Christians who hung on his every word, but quite another to share it with non-Christians who seemed disinterested or even aggressive. Wrestling with God’s call to evangelise, he realised he was putting too much value on the opinions of others. What did he do? He prayed, knowing that freedom from worrying over the “esteem or contempt” of others “must be given from the Lord”.

Fearing how others might react to our Christian witness appears to be one of the “devil’s schemes” to make us ineffective (Ephesians 6:11). That is why Paul asked his readers, “Pray also for me . . . that I will boldly make known the mystery of the Gospel” (v 19).

Note that Paul wrote from prison, and that sharing the Gospel was not just losing him friends, it was gaining him powerful enemies who sought his death. Yet despite the pressure, he said: “Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I should” (v 20). Paul knew in the face of contempt that prayer was the key to speaking boldly and joyfully about Jesus.

Does a fear of how others could react stop you from sharing your faith? By prayer God will help us value His Word above the opinions of others, giving us all we need to declare Him fearlessly.

Prayer: Loving God, help me value Your opinion more than the opinion of others. Give me boldness to tell others about all that You have done in my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.