Make no mistake about it, we as Christians are called to be God’s witnesses in the world. Acts 1:8 states, ” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Notice the imperative given within this scripture – not “may be My witnesses,” but “shall be My witnesses.”
This scripture from Acts informs us that we are to be God’s witnesses in and around our churches, in the outer regions beyond our churches, to the unlovely people of the world, and to all people at all places at all times.
Please take a moment to think about the way you came to know Jesus and His saving Grace. Who shared that message with you? I would venture to say it was likely a father, mother, grandparent, co-worker, preacher, Sunday school teacher, or some other close friend or family member. Someone took the time to tell you about Jesus!
Through our witnessing, we have the awesome privilege of telling others about Jesus and the work that He has accomplished in our lives.To be sure, many people in this world need the saving knowledge of Christ. Every time we witness to our faith, we are speaking to another human being whois a short prayer away from receiving everlasting life.
Several years ago, a friend of mine told me the story of a young college student who was home for the summer and working at a jewelry store in the Western North Carolina Mountains. This young man was in the process of showing a customer a variety of different crosses. The customer asked to see if they could see one of the crosses out of the glass case. The young man responded, “Which cross? This one, or the one with the little man on it.” Wow! A young man living in the Bible Belt who did not know the name of Jesus.
So friends, let us go and be God’s witnesses. Let us live into our calling as Global Methodists to witness BOLDLY.
Rev. Randy Foster
Presiding Elder, Asheboro District