The Hard Truth About Sharing Your Faith – Greg Laurie Devotion – March 23, 2026

Biblical Context

The book of Acts, written by Luke, tells the story of the early church. It picks up right where the Gospel of Luke leaves off, showing us how the Holy Spirit works through ordinary people to spread the good news of Jesus. Luke, a doctor and a careful historian, put together this account, giving us a window into the apostles’ lives and their struggles. In Acts, we see Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, become one of Jesus’ most dedicated followers and a key missionary. This particular scene finds Paul in Caesarea, standing before Governor Felix and his wife, Drusilla. Paul has been arrested and is now in custody, yet he keeps sharing his faith even when it means facing powerful leaders.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “frightened” as it appears in Acts 24:25. The Greek word here is ἔμφοβος (emphobos). This word means ‘struck with fear,’ ‘terrified,’ or ‘alarmed.’ It describes a deep, sudden fear, often of something startling or dangerous. It’s not just a mild concern; it’s a gut-level reaction that makes you want to get away from whatever is causing it. When Felix heard Paul speak, he didn’t just feel a little uncomfortable; he felt a real, urgent fear that made him shut down the conversation immediately.

The Hard Truth About Sharing Your Faith

Jesus told us, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:29–30 nlt). You might think this means the Christian life is always smooth sailing. But Jesus wasn’t saying your walk with Him would be easy, or that it won’t challenge you. Quite the opposite.

What Christians believe often goes against what the world thinks is smart. Our beliefs show how empty some common sayings and shallow ideas really are. The parts of our Christian faith that are tough to hear often put us, as believers, in a tricky spot with those who don’t agree with us. But that doesn’t change anything. These hard truths still need to be taken to heart, and we need to tell others about them. We’re going to spend some time looking at these hard truths, and we’re starting with the one you see play out in Acts 24:24–25.

Paul Shares the Hard Truth with Felix

When the apostle Paul stood before the Roman governor Felix and his wife, “he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment” (Acts 24:25 nlt). You see, Paul wasn’t just talking about everyday things; he was sharing his faith with Felix, laying out some really important, and perhaps uncomfortable, truths about God’s ways.

But the governor? He was “frightened” by what Paul was saying. His reaction was clear. He told Paul, “Go away for now… When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again” (verse 25 nlt). You’ve probably seen this kind of reaction before, or maybe even felt it yourself. It’s how a lot of people deal with big spiritual issues in their lives. They say, “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to deal with this now.” It’s a way to push away something that makes them feel uneasy or scared.

My Own Mom’s Reluctance

That was my mother’s response every time we talked about spiritual things. She would cut the conversation short and say, “I don’t want to talk about it.” Whenever we discussed the meaning of life or what happens after we die, she would always say, “I don’t want to talk about it.” You can imagine how frustrating that felt, wanting so badly to share something so important with someone you love.

I didn’t want to have an argument every time I saw her. But one morning, I really felt deep inside that I needed to visit my mother and bring up the subject again. When I arrived, I told her directly, “I want to talk to you about eternity.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, just like she always did. But I wasn’t going to back down that day. I said to her, “Mom, today we are going to talk about it.”

She didn’t like it. Not at all. But we had the conversation. And you know what? It ultimately resulted in her recommitting her life to the Lord. I’m so glad that we spoke about spiritual things that day because it wasn’t long afterward that she died unexpectedly. That conversation made all the difference, not just for her, but for me too.

Don’t Wait for Convenience

So, if you know someone right now—your mom, dad, grandfather, grandmother, or someone who’s getting close to the end of their life—and you’re feeling a clear push from the Holy Spirit to have that conversation, then go have it. You might be thinking, “What if it’s awkward?” Then let it be awkward. Don’t let a little discomfort stop you. It just may result in them making a commitment to Christ. You don’t know what tomorrow holds, and a little awkwardness today could mean everything for eternity.