We all thrive through close, personal relationships with others who love and care for us. As believers living in a secular environment, we have an all-important relationship with a very influential man, who the world doesn’t know at all. His influence profoundly affects us and how we relate to others, even two thousand years after He walked the earth. Christians have been given the responsibility to demonstrate to the world what kind of a person He is; in these last days, there’s an urgency to introduce lost souls to this man and encourage a life-saving relationship with Him.

We’ve been entrusted with the mission of continuing the powerful ministry that Jesus Christ began. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This isn’t a suggestion, but a command. Accepting this responsibility makes us His ambassadors. We’re charged with spreading the good news of His love and forgiveness, regardless of how others respond to it.

When we spend time with Jesus and learn from Him, we can expect the same treatment He received—puzzlement and even hostility from the world. As a child, not even Jesus’ earthly parents understood His work (Luke 2:50). As an adult, He constantly encountered resentment and unbelief from people who didn’t know who He really was. “He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, ‘Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?’ Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?’ And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him…” (Matthew 13:54-57, NLT). Despite this, it’s imperative that we continue to press forward with the mission He gave us.

A relationship with Jesus transforms us and causes us to stand out from the crowd. “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13, NLT). Just as this happened with the disciples, it’s bound to happen with us as well. Spreading the gospel has a way of attracting attention, but we shouldn’t let that intimidate us.

The world is full of philosophies and religions, none of which can explain who Jesus really is. “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:10, 11). Knowing about Him isn’t the same as truly knowing Him. We’ve been commanded to bring Jesus to ordinary, everyday people who don’t know him, but desperately need to.

People are still talking about what Jesus did, so we’re in good company when they talk about us the same way. Whatever profession or line of work we’re in, we mustn’t let the thought of disapproval from anyone stop us from speaking the Word of God to those He puts in front of us. The stakes are too high for us to keep quiet.

Not everyone will accept Jesus when we introduce Him to others. Plenty of people will reject Him, but it’s up to us to give them a chance at this transforming relationship. In whatever way we present Him, we simply need to speak out boldly.

For more on getting to know Jesus through a personal relationship with Him, click on the link below for the five-message series, The Power from Knowing God.