Be a Witness

Day 15

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I Am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

– Matthew 28:18-20

Additional reading: 1 Timothy 4:12

How many times have you thought about talking to your friends about Jesus, but you weren’t quite sure what to do? Well, here are a few steps to take if you’re having a hard time:

Pray!

It’s okay to be afraid to talk to your friends about your faith and relationship with Christ. Some of the disciples felt like that too, but Jesus had very wise words for them. Look back at Matthew 28:18-20 to see what Jesus had to say. Remember we can always pray and ask for wisdom and guidance. The Holy Spirit will guide you and give you the words to say.

Talk is cheap, but real witnessing has legs.

You need to back up your words with actions. Remember, your life is a sermon. What kind of sermon are you preaching? The words you speak may have some impact, but the lives we are living also have a huge impact on the message we are trying to send. Our lives should be an example of our relationship with Christ. If we aren’t bearing fruit, then others can’t see the benefits of being a follower of Christ

Be a witness, but don’t be pushy.

It’s God who does the work; you simply present the message. You can’t force anyone to believe in God.

“So is My word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

– Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

Share your faith and why you believe.

My students and campers constantly ask me about my faith. As a result, I share my faith. I share what I know of Jesus and the difference He has made. It’s up to God to help people believe. I think when it comes to evangelism, we have to know where we end and God begins, what our job is and what God’s job is. Jesus never said “help people believe in me,” He just said “testify of me … compel them to come in.” What people do with that… is on them. But we do have to be willing to invest ourselves in the Lord and His harvest.

Don’t be discouraged!

Not everyone is ready to receive Christ the moment they hear the Gospel. We need to once again trust God’s word to do God’s work. Be praying for your friends and family. Pray that God is working in their hearts. If they get defensive or laugh you off, remember that it’s not a personal attack on you.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

– Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

Think about some people you can witness to this week and how you can go about it.

Confession for today: “I pray that I heed the words of Christ ‘do not be afraid,’ am strengthened by the Holy Spirit’s gift of courage, give witness to the Gospel, and share my faith with others. Strengthen me to become a witness to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus, our Lord.”

Love and Nuggs,

Amanda

Harvest Church