Who me, a witness for Christ? You got to be kidding!!

“You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.
¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.
¹⁶ In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5:14-16 (GW)

A pastor was building a fence while the neighbor’s 12-year-old son watched. The pastor smiled and said, “Are you interested in carpentry?” “No”, the boy replied, “ I just want to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with the hammer!” Although this story is probably apocryphal, the point is one that each believer is confronted with the question: “How do my words and deeds reflect my beliefs?” or maybe in a slightly different fashion “How do my actions reflect His presence in me?”

Although we may not give it much thought, each of our lives affects those with whom we have contact whether we intend it or not. It may be a positive experience for them or a negative one, but our lives will daily affect others. Unfortunately, we have been led to believe that our witnessing involves telling others of the “whys” of our faith in Christ and therefore being able to relate His miracles, His death on the cross and resurrection. Numerous believers feel uncomfortable in delineating those events and their meaning and their responses are clouded with “preacher talk” and seldom increase the listener’s faith. Often the response reflects a misunderstanding of the question being asked about our faith, the query is usually not directed as to the “why” but rather “how” does His presence influence our actions in world around us.

Maybe our efforts to separate the secular from the sacred

lead us to giving different responses to same question. When our health has been restored after a serious illness or accident, we often feel free to share with our church friends about how our prayers were answered but when we tell co-workers and others about our recovery, we frequently give credit for the positive results to the skills of the physician or a new medication. It must amaze our Lord how our reaction to healing compares with those healed through His direct ministry. Do you recall when Jesus cleansed the leper and told him not to tell anyone? The healed leper couldn’t help from telling everyone he met about his good news! What is difference about our present-day healing experience? Are we embarrassed to reveal our faith in prayer and that He still answers our pleas or don’t we really believe that He is still able to heal?

If we accept that the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer, we do not have to become overly concerned about our verbal responses. God will automatically manifest Himself through us in the most convincing way through he fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness (Galatians 5:22). His fruits will speak for themselves without effort on our part. Our only task is let it happen in ways compatible with our own personal style. Maybe, the saying: “Let go, let God” should be modified to “Let the Spirit freely operate through you”. In this way a true picture of our Christian faith can be richly displayed if we only let it. Amen

He’s using me now --- this moment,

and wherever I go or stand.

Perhaps by a plan accomplished,

perhaps when He stays my hand.

Perhaps by a word in season,

perhaps by a silent prayer.

In ways that I know and know not,

His labor of love I share.

By

Annie Johnson Flint