马太福音19:16-22：16有一个人来见耶稣说：“夫子（有古卷作“良善的夫子”），我该作甚么善事，才能得永生？”17耶稣对他说：“你为甚么以善事问我呢？只有一位是善的（有古卷作“你为甚么称我是良善的？除了 神以外，没有一个良善的）。你若要进入永生，就当遵守诫命。18他说：“甚么诫命？”耶稣说：“就是不可杀人，不可奸淫，不可偷盗，不可作假见证，19当孝敬父母，又当爱人如己。”20那少年人说：“这一切我都遵守了，还缺少甚么呢？”21耶稣说：“你若愿意作完全人，可去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上，你还要来跟从我。”22那少年人听见这话，就忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多。
这个故事教导我们如何传福音。这个财主认为他已经完美遵守了所有的律法，有足够的资格上天堂。每一个不是基督徒的人对此都确认无疑，好行为就是他们的自我拯救。而我们必须要做的第一件事情就是说服他们，他们并没有那么好。
耶稣最先向这个人指出的是律法，因为律法如同与一面镜子，让我们自己看的自己的不足和罪性。但是很多人可能会说：“我没有杀人，没有犯奸淫，我没有做假见证。”但是，如果你仔细查考律法，你会发现你有许多罪行需要忏悔。
然后耶稣向这个人指出了他的最大弱点—他的钱财。耶稣向他挑战，“变卖你所有的，分给别人，并来跟从我。”耶稣向他显明了他的罪，即，他对钱财的热爱。他忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他不愿意放弃这一切。不幸的是，他没有为他的罪行忏悔，也没有多停留一会儿，否则他会听到他的罪实际已经被赦免了。
这就是我们给邻舍传福音的方式。首先要指出他们的罪，然后要指向赦罪的耶稣。其实这也是我们给自己传福音的方式。当你读经的时候，看看它如何指向你的罪性。要深度挖掘。你的罪性不愿意让你隐秘的罪行被暴露出来。一定要深度挖掘，然后提醒自己你的罪在耶稣里面得到赦免了。背诵一段你最喜欢的关于赦罪的经文。
祷告：亲爱的耶稣，当我们读经的时候，请对我们的心说话，让我们远离自己的罪。告诉我们，我们的罪已经得到赦免，这样我们会找到喜乐和盼望，而不是悲惨地离开这个世界。当机会来临，请教导我如何将福音传递给那些同样深陷罪恶的邻舍。阿们！
Matthew 19:16-22: 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
This story teaches us how to be evangelists. The rich man actually believed that he had kept the commandments well enough to earn heaven. That’s true of every person who is not a Christian. Good behavior is their own salvation, and the first thing we have to do is convince them that they are not really good.
First Jesus points the man to the commandments, because the commandments act as a mirror to show us our flaws, our sins. But many people could say, “I haven’t killed anyone. I haven’t committed adultery. I haven’t lied under oath.” Of course, if you really look at the commandments closely, you would see that you have many sins to confess.
Then Jesus points to the rich man’s greatest weakness – his money. “Sell everything and give it away and follow me, Jesus challenged him.” Jesus revealed his sin to him, his love for his money. He went away sad because he was not willing to part with it. Unfortunately, he still did not confess his sin and he didn’t stick around long enough to hear that his sins were forgiven.
This is how we evangelize our neighbors. We point out their sins and we point them to Jesus, the one who forgives. But it is also how we evangelize ourselves. When you read the Bible, look for how it points out your sins. Dig deeply. Your sinful nature doesn’t want your secret sins to be revealed. But dig deeply. Then remind yourself that you sin is forgiven in Christ. Recite one of your favorite forgiveness passages.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, when we read the Bible, speak to our hearts. Call us out for our sins. Tell us that our sins are forgiven so that we might have hope and joy and not go away sad! And when I have opportunity, teach me to reach out to my neighbor in their sins as well. Amen.