The Witness

God desires for you to be involved in drawing people to His Word through a dedicated life to Him and an active witness for Him.  Paul Chappell

What does it mean to witness to others?  Have you had struggles in your life?  If you have ever lost a job, had an illness, lost a loved one, had an addiction, been hurt by someone else then you qualify as a witness.  Too many times I think we start thinking that to be a witness we must have a theological background, be able to quote scripture or we must be able to explain why Jesus died on the cross. 

If in your lifetime you have struggled with anything you are meant to be a witness to fulfill God’s purpose in your life.  Being a witness doesn’t mean we brag about how we survived the struggle.  The only reason any of us survive a hardship is because of God.  It is not our abilities, a surgeon’s hands or medical miracles.  It is by God’s hand that we survive the struggles of life.

When we face the struggles of life we can choose to do several things.  We can blame God, the environment, other people and even those around us who try to help.  We also have another option.  We can praise God.  In James 1:2-4 he tells us to count it all joy when you fall into various trials, because knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  He tells us to let patience have its perfect work, so that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

One of the biggest struggles I have is patience when it comes to God.  We live in an impatient society where patience is not considered a virtue.  God has perfect timing. Did you catch the last part of the verse?  If we let patience have its perfect work the result is so that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

If you are struggling with something in your life, turn it over to God.  God can make each of us a perfect witness for His kingdom.  Take your struggle and use it to help others to know God.  You don’t have to be a missionary in another country to witness to others. There are people in your daily life that need a witness.  It’s not your job to convince people to accept Christ. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job.  If we forget the Holy Spirit’s job, we will not be effective.  Witness and let God take it from there.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I want to be a witness for Your Kingdom.  Too many times I want to be in control and direct the outcome.  That is not my job on earth.  When hardships and trials come my way, I can take them and turn them into blessings.  Remind me to witness for the purpose of showing others You, and then let the Holy Spirit handle the rest. 

Scripture: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8