Before we witness...
Standing as a witness of God involves both who we are and what we do. In order to be a witness of the Saviour Jesus Christ, we must strive to be like Him. This means setting a Christ's example for others through the clothes we wear, the words we speak, the music we listen to, the service we give and the friends we make. So, what is a witness?
What do you think of when you hear the word ''witness''? Most people probably think of someone in a courtroom. The witness is someone that has seen something take place and is there to tell of all that they saw, heard and experienced. Likewise, as Christians, we are called to be witnesses for Christ who present a testimony about the truth that we have experienced and heard.
- We need to be born again before we can witness to any other person (John 3:1-14; 1 Peter 2:9-10).
- We need to be prayerful (1 Samuel 12:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
- We need to be disciples of Jesus Christ before we can become witnesses of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:19; Acts 4:20).
- We need to be reconciled to Christ because it is Christ who gives us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
- We need God the Holy Spirit who gives us power and consequently enables us to witness (Acts 1:8; Luke 4:18-19; Ephesians 5:18).
- We need to be filled with the Word of God and know how to correctly apply it in our lives (Romans 10:17).
- We need to know how to relate with none believers. In the Bible, we see that Andrew brought Simon Peter to the Lord (John 1:40-42).
- We need to understand our most important mission before we can be involved in witnessing (Romans 10:13-15).
- We need to love God and love the people who God has created (1 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 John 1:1-4; 1 John 4:20-22; Ephesians 2:1-10).
| So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts1:6-8) |
Devotion written by the Rev Allan Mchulu, minister at Kabwata Uniting Presbyterian Church- Munali Presbytery Lusaka Zambia. I am married to Jessy Mwanda and together we have two beautiful daughters Deborah and Natasha aged 21 and 18 respectively.
