1 Corinthians 9:16-18
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Wherever I go, whatever I do, I must preach the Gospel; in every action, word, thought, & deed. If I do not I suppress the nature of what Christ has put into me. That God loves us, even though we are rebellious to Him in everything, and that he would divert his wrath & justice to Christ on our behalf; so that we may be able to have communication with Him as our Father.
I honestly cannot imagine a more fulfilling life than going to the ends of the earth proclaiming this good news. That God has provided us a means for forgiveness and that He would draw people to Him through faith. And faith comes through hearing the Gospel (Rom 10:17) so I have to go proclaim this. I cannot think of a time when I feel more alive & more fulfilled then when I am talking to others about God; when I feel the spirit speaking through me. God knows I’m a horrible public speaker. I get nervous, I stutter, but this allows more of the Holy Spirit to take over and talk for me.
I absolutely need to spend the rest of my life preaching the Gospel, as it is central to my faith, because “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Cor 15:14) It is central to our faith as the church. It frees us from religion; it frees us from the fears of this world, fear of death, fear of man, fear of temptation.
There is an aching in my heart & soul for people to turn to Christ. Woe to me, that I would be torn appart & that I would suffer emensley, if I do not preach the good news that has been told to me. Woe to me if I do not shout it from the rooftops. Woe to me if I deny Christ. Woe to me if I do not share this love.
