WITNESSING: CAN WE GET SERIOUS?
I have often wondered just what it will take before we start to consider the reality of what it takes to be a real witness for Christ in our life today? I can say that it needs to become much more convincing to the world around us than it has been until now! Among the greatest things that need to change is our own commitment in Christ to become real to us. I think in many ways God is doing the same thing with us that He asked Peter "Who do you say that I am?" and right after Peter had made the claim that he believed Jesus was the Messiah; the Son of the living God Jesu asked Him " Do you love me? Then feed my sheep!" Jesus asked Him three times because He wanted to get to the real heart of what it would take to do two different things: 1. What would it take for us to really love God and 2. what it would take to really feed those people who have committed to Christ so that they would have the strength and wisdom to grow in Christ's teachings?
The true fact is that we are not loving God enough to effectively feed His sheep. This leads to the weakness we have in witnessing to this world full of people. Jesus asked the question "Do you love me?" for a very specific reason; because if you are only pretending to be in love with God it will be impossible for you to give any real meaning or testimony of witness about Him in your life. God is not fooled by our deceit like men are. He can read the very intent of our hearts in what we say and do unlike those around us every day. The fact is that eventually even those who cannot read the intent of our hearts come to realize a fake when they see them.
If we intend to give the same kind of witness that Jesus gave we must do as He did by living that witness out in our everyday life; or as I call it Mentoring...and by doing it that way it will be time consuming and very difficult to do because it will take a one on one effort to live out the word of God in front of others. To this world that is the least the least effective way to reach the most people; and that is true, but it is the only way that both our lives can be changed and that we can grow closer to God. Our witness in Christ is not simply a one time thing to the world around us because people are watching all the time for that one slip up that can be used to accuse us of unfaithfulness to God. In many ways the world should keep us on our toes even better than the church around us, but only if we are very serious about God in our lives. Ultimately that is the key...how much do you mean what you say about your belief in Christ? Only you and God really know the answer to that question.
If we stop to think about it this raises all kinds of other questions about why God might answer our prayers the ways He does and why things seem to push our lives into certain directions? We can be effective witnesses for Christ in our lives only if we are first of all truthful in our relationship with Christ. Think on these things. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
Comments
Post a Comment