Being A Witness For Christ
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, please guide and show me how to be an example to others in the world, so that they may be brought to you. For you have bestowed upon us the commandment to go and spread your message. Amen.
“So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 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.” Acts 1:6-8 (NLT)
REFLECT:
In this chapter, Jesus, who had already died and risen from the grave, is eating with his disciples. They seemed to still be focused on the idea of freeing Israel from Roman rule. When they ask him, Jesus gives them direction, not about how to be free of their rulers, which was about the physical world, but that they will receive “power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” They would be given many traits to help spread the word of the Lord with courage, boldness, confidence, and authority.
APPLY:
This is the same order given to every Christian: to spread the word of Jesus and to be a witness of Christ. If you ever doubt if you can do this, image what it was like for the Apostles. They had just watched their leader die horribly and after being resurrected, commanded them to preach a message of love and forgiveness. This as they soon underwent their own persecution. Later in Acts, James, the brother of John and one of the original Apostles, was killed by King Herod. We do not have the same threat hanging over us, but our battle can be with ourselves. Should I talk to that person about my faith? I feel like God is telling me to share my belief, but I am not ready. Remember, we are his witnesses. His desire is for us to be outward focused. When asked what is the most important commandment in the law of Moses is, Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (NLT) While we love God, we must love our neighbor. That is to love everyone and then to look at ways to share God’s word with them and to be a witness.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, it is too easy to us to focus on our own growth as a Christian and not remember and obey your order to go and make disciples. Please show me ways I can follow your word and bring me strength to bring my faith in you to others. Amen.
WORSHIP: