To witness is to testify of what you have seen and/or heard, to confirm, to give evidence of what you have experienced. I am to be Christ’s witness; I am to testify of what I have seen and heard of Him. Would the world/universe know who Jesus really is by my witness? Does my life testify that His way is the best way? Or does my witness just show a roller coaster of confusion?
It is a heavy responsibility to think I am witness to the world of who Christ is. I think over my behavior even in the past week, and I think, “Yikes! Am I showing who Christ is by the way I live?” I would love to say a resounding yes to that question, but even the thoughts in my head when driving in traffic miserably fail at showing Jesus. I can tell you how not to witness to Christ’s good character very easily, but to say I have even come close to consistently being a good witness would be a lie.
But this much I know and am learning: When I concentrate on being a good witness and on what I am doing to show that, I never quite make the mark. When I focus on looking to Jesus in every situation, spending time with Him, talking to Him, abiding in His presence, I start to see differences in me. Differences that reflect more of Him and less of me. Relationship with Him seems to be the best pathway to actually reflect who He is.
So my friends, yes - we are called to be Christ’s witnesses! What a privilege! What a responsibility! When we walk out our doors and even as we live within our doors, we are Christ’s ambassadors. You are an ambassador to your kids, to your spouse, to your friends, your neighbors, co-workers and the strangers God puts in your path that day. But it is never about you and what you are doing wrong or right - it is in relationship that it is possible to be what He has asked us to be for the world’s sake. So don’t try and share from what you don’t know or have not experienced; instead, experience a relationship with Jesus! He longs for intimacy with you, and before you know it, you will be a living witness of His mercy, love and grace.
- Pastor Jen