January 10, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"Be a Witness..."
Mark 12:31
Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
The last recorded words of Jesus before His ascension into heaven were: “But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world” (Acts 1:8). One of the lessons Jesus wanted His disciples to hear was that they need to share their story of God's love to those closest to them (Jerusalem), those in their general vicinity (Samaria), and ultimately to the ends of the earth.
There are a number of hindrances to sharing our faith: Some people have been “burned" by someone who attends church and are highly resistant to the gospel. Some of us feel embarrassed to talk about God, fearing others might think we are strange or be offended by our words. Some of us are not confident in our knowledge of the Bible and spiritual matters.
There are a few dynamics of sharing your faith that might help you relax and be more effective: First, the job of the Holy Spirit To convict people of their need for God (Matthew 10:19-20). Second, God will guide us to people who are open and receptive and ready to hear about God's love. Paul was led to a City in Macedonia by a divine dream (Acts 16:9). An angel led Philip to an Ethiopian politician (Acts 8:26-27). He will lead you to people who are responsive to your story. Third, not all of us are called to be evangelists, but all of us are called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). What does a witness do? Simple. She tells her story. You don't have to teach a Bible Lesson or understand theology to tell your story. You just have to know what God has done for you. Fourth, the Holy Spirit gives us special power when we share the Gospel with others. If You stumble and bumble a little bit, don't worry. The Holy Spirit is at work, too.
Are you ready to share? Keep it simple. In the words of Peter, "Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have"(1 Peter 3:15).
