Here’s A Thought

Acts 1:8 is an important verse for us as believers.

8 What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."

Now, certainly this is a verse that speaks volumes about evangelism and where we are to be witnesses for Him. It says so much more, as it indicates what we are to do in our lives.

I have been a pastor for over 30 years. I have been a Bible Study teacher, a group leader, and held positions in the church, denomination, and its entities. I have been in the marketplace. I have been a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. A coworker, neighbor, and friend. Most of those things you can say well, so have I, so what is the point? I am glad you asked because the point is that in all of those since I became a believer and the Holy Spirit came to me, I have been a witness.

Being a witness requires that someone provide public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction. That is a definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and it does very clearly say what we as Christians are to do in our witness. Provide public affirmation by word or example of our religious faith or conviction.

Here’s a thought, and let me help you out here with some ideas of how you are and should be living as a witness.

First, we all want to be treated fairly. We want people to show us respect. Now I know that is not happening every day with a lot of people, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't, in whatever way you want others to treat you, treat them that way. I mean that I hope your motto is not I don't get made, I get even. That is a terrible witness for Jesus Christ. The one who gave Himself freely so you could have eternal life.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:12 ESV that

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Look at how it is described in The Message-

12 "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.

So here’s a second thought: have you ever found it hard to forgive someone? It kinda goes back to what we said earlier. You don't get mad, you get even. Forgiveness is not something we do well as people. Some are more gracious than others, but it is hard for most people to forgive those who have done us wrong.

So you are asking, then what do I do? How do I handle it? Think of it this way: God forgave you, so you are to forgive others. I know your first thought is, well, I'm not God, and that is right. However, His Word tells us in Paul's letter in Ephesians 4:32b

2 Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Now we all know that and accept that, but in The Message, that is the second part of the verse. The first part of the verse says

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.

Well, when we read that, it makes forgiving more than just a response; it makes it something that requires that we get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to help and guide us to do the right thing.

When we consider this point, we know that we are forgiven, but do we truly appreciate what that forgiveness required God to do and how Jesus would suffer for our transgressions?

Isaiah 53:5-6 ESV-

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Listen, that puts it all in focus, even for a spiritually blind person. They have to see us forgiving to understand how God forgives.

Most of us are benevolent and want to help others. I recently heard someone say that as Americans, we are the most benevolent people on earth. That may be true, but I believe that is because Christians are leading the way. Samartians Purse, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and both the national and state levels.s a thought.

So here is a final thought for you today: helping people is as if you were helping Jesus. Now this is something very important for you and me as believers. So often we think why am I doing something? So, as a believer, we find ourselves looking to know what we are supposed to do in life. There is no better way to know than to look to God's Word and in that case to do what Jesus said to do. We find in Matthew 25:40

40 … 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'

So, who and what was He talking about? Well, the text is from a larger part of the Scripture found beginning in verse 31. In these verses, Jesus is teaching about the final judgement. I hope you will read for yourself, but what it says is when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, when we welcome a stranger, give clothes to someone in need, when someone was sick or even in prison, we visited them, Jesus says-

40 … 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'

So here is your final thought: just tell your story. I would imagine that if you are a Christian, you know that you are supposed to tell others about Jesus Christ. Now, if you didn't realize that or were confused as to that, then let me share wth you the Great Commission that as a Christian is to guide our lives. It is found in Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Jesus was saying to His disciples and those who followed Him that telling others about Him would lead to that person(s) coming to Him. You can't say I'm not a preacher, so that is not my responsibility. You may not be, but all of the things I shared earlier are ways that people can and will see Jesus in you. Tell them when they ask about why you are the way you are, tell them your story. We all have a different story as to how we heard the message of Jesus Christ. We all have a story of our life before and after coming to have Him as our Savior. Tell your story and let them see how faith in Christ changed your life and can change theirs, too.

Be a witness and treat others the way you want to be treated. Forgive others like He forgave you. Help people like you were helping Jesus. When you do those things you are and will have the opporunity to tell your story. God and His Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

In God's Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy