“I can’t”
those are the words my Dad spoke to me not more than 2 1/2 years ago. That was his response to a question I had asked him, “Dad will you do a Bible study with one of our contacts?”
“I can’t”
Let me tell you a little about my Dad, almost all of his adult life he has been a teacher. He taught in Adventist academies for about 6 years and then at Pacific Union College, Loma Linda University, & Andrews University Dayton, OH campus, & University of the Pacific. He has a degree in Education, Physical Therapy, and it seems like there may be something else. He has a Master’s degree, two in fact, and an earned Doctorate. He started a Master’s Physical Therapy program from scratch and was the director of it for 10+ years.
“I can’t”
Seemed like a pretty ridiculous answer!
And even more importantly than all the above, and really all that mattered, he was constantly telling me how much he loved Jesus and how much Jesus was blessing his life.
“I can’t”
Was then an even more unbelievable answer!
“I can’t”
Is the answer I hear a lot when I talk to folk about giving Bible studies to another individual.
I used to accept this answer as legit.
“I can’t”
I believed some people really couldn’t, I no longer believe that.
Why?
Because–
“I can’t”
Doesn’t fit at all with the promises of scripture–
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. –Matthew 28:19, 20.
“I can’t”
Really doesn’t go with, “I am with you always”
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” –Acts 1:8
“I can’t”
Doesn’t work with, “you shall receive power”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” –John 14:12-14
“I can’t”
Does not correlate with, “greater works than these he will do” “whatever you ask” “If you ask anything…I will do.”
“I can’t”
Does not work with John 14:26 either,
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
So even if my Dad had zero degrees and zero teaching experience, it would seem quite silly for a man that says he loves Jesus and is blessed by Jesus to say…
“I can’t”
“I can’t”
is foolish for any of us to say.
“But it is not my gift which is why…”
“I can’t”
Knowing the Bible and sharing what you know with another person has nothing to do with gifts. Because even if you are nervous, you can have word for word what you want to say right in front of you…and yes people
“CAN”
come to Jesus this way…and they DO!
So the only way
“I can’t”
works is if that is the answer to one question, “Are you capable of caring about the eternal salvation of another human being?”
If you can say…
“I can’t”
to that, okay you’re off the hook.
But that wouldn’t go with,
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;” –Matthew 5:44, 45
In other words if you’re a Christian…a Jesus follower…
“I can’t”
NEVER works when it comes to sharing the truths of scripture with another human being.
So let’s be real and admit…
“I can’t”
is really
“I won’t”
and after we admit that, let’s repent of it…
And trust Jesus to help us move from…
“I can’t”
Which is…
“I won’t”
To
“I can!”
My Dad did and praise Jesus I have baptized several he has studied the Bible with.