Acts 1:8 NLT
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
”And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…”
”Witnesses” – what are we a witness of?
I believe that our witness would be that we are a sinner saved by the grace of God whose life is transformed by the mighty power of Jesus Christ.
”I once was lost, but now I’m found.”
The question is, is that true about my life?
Does my life reflect the change that a life submitted to Christ would look like?
If not, I need to bring this to the throne of God immediately.
Our changed life will be the most influential witness to the power of Jesus Christ.
If our lives are the same as they were before we met Jesus Christ, something is off, and this must be addressed with God.
With the change started, where do we start?
We start with those directly in front of us, our family, coworkers, and neighbors. This is going to be the most difficult area due to the fact people are going to take a lot of convincing because they know our ”old” way of being.
They are going to be the most cynical and unconvinced. The good news is we can endure if we keep our lives centered on Jesus Christ.
”Greater is the Spirit living in us than the spirit in the world…”
Even the brothers of Jesus weren’t convinced until He died and rose again.
But I guarantee that they were watching very closely. Our relatives, coworkers, and neighbors will be watching us very closely when we proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus mentioned that a prophet was not welcomed in his hometown. If this were a fact for our Lord, this would be infinitely more difficult for us.
But don’t lose heart ❤️ and here’s why:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
These verses bring great joy and comfort to my heart as well as instruction.
Love is ”patient and kind.” The result should always rest in God’s hands. The power to soften the heart comes from God.
Our job is to be patient and kind. Not ”boastful”, ”proud” or ”rude.”
Have you ever experienced that ”boastful,” “proud,” and ”rude,” ”Christian”?
Here’s a key, don’t be like that; the most righteous we could ever be doesn’t add up to ”filthy rags.” How’s that for a picture, thank you, Isaiah, for reminding us where we are before God.
Love doesn’t demand it’s ”own way”. What does that mean?
If God doesn’t demand us to worship Him, who are we to force our hand on that.
Our job, continue to let the Word of God shape our minds, let it penetrate our hearts, but most importantly, let it affect our willing behavior to please God with everything we do.
The most influential witness to the saving grace and mercy of Jesus Christ is a changed life, a life that shines with the virtue of the Spirit at work in our lives.
That’s where it starts; it starts with those closest to us and radiates out from there.
How can we affect the spread of the Gospel to the ends of the earth, serve in outreach ministries in your church, and give generously to missionary efforts that your church supports?
Give charitably to the missions.
Most important is love, ”never gives up,” ”loses faith,” and ”is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.”
Our prayers should always focus on the salvation of those around us and for the return of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your love and grace; I pray for a patient heart for those around me.
I am confident that You will accomplish Your mission. I pray that You use me to that end.
I pray for the hearts and souls of those around me; I pray that you soften their hearts to the message I bring to them about Your saving grace and promise.
Let my life shine before them as an example of a life changed by Your hand.
In the name of my loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏🏻❤️
