Big, scary words. They can stop us, can't they?

As my kids learned to read, sometimes a big word brought total silence. Sometimes they'd point to it, "I don't know that word," or "That word's too hard for me." Yet other times, they'd sound it out, attempt it, and ask for help.

Evangelism. It's one of the "big" words for us as Christians. Calling it "witnessing" doesn't make it easier. The idea of explaining Jesus well enough for someone to accept him as Lord, the idea of being able to answer hard questions that might get asked, the idea of speaking out only to feel rejected - all scary things.

When these fearful thoughts grip us, what can we do? LOVE.

Jesus pointed to love as he called Peter to be his witness. Read John 21:15-17. In these few verses, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" The first two times, Jesus uses the Greek word for love, "agapao." Peter answers yes, that he loves Jesus, but he uses a different Greek word for love, "phileo."

Why are they using different words?

Jesus loves perfectly, a divine love. This is represented by "agapao." Peter, who recently denied knowing Jesus, who is aware that Jesus knows his heart, who is being honest, he answers with "phileo," This word for love represents brotherly, friendly love.

Jesus shows his acceptance of Peter in verse 17. The third and final time Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Jesus uses the Greek word "phileo." Peter acknowledges that Jesus knows everything and knows this is the quality of love Peter has for Christ. Jesus answers with, "Feed my sheep."

Do you see it? Jesus didn't say, "Step up and love me correctly and then preach." Jesus didn't say, "You aren't capable because you denied knowing me, and now you can't say you love with me with perfect love." Jesus called Peter to feed his sheep.

Just as Jesus took on our sin so we could take on his righteousness, He will also pour divine love over us and qualify us to do his work.

Read 1 John 4: 7-21. See that love is from God. He loved us first. See that we must love one another and testify that Jesus is the Savior of the world, relying on the love God has given us. And don't miss verse 18 and 19.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us." (NIV)

Jeanette Edgar is married to her husband, Randy, of 15 years and a mother of three school-age children. Her passion is to encourage believers to find their own identities in Christ by striving first to know Him better. Personal interests include reading, traveling, hiking, scrapbooking and pushing past complacency to growth in her walk with the Lord. You can follow her Bible reading blog at www.invitedlife.wordpress.com.