“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 ESV).
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 1:6).
When Jesus was giving final instructions to his disciples, he didn’t say that they should be his witnesses. He said to them, “You will be my witnesses.” Jesus expected his disciples to bear witness. You might say that he saw it as a mark of authenticity for true discipleship.
Witnessing is more than just a mark of a true disciple. It is a discipline that produces spiritual growth in the one who is obedient to this calling.
Perhaps this is why there are so many immature and weak Christians in our churches today. They don’t practice their faith. They think of it as something to be kept to themselves. Faith for them belongs at church. It doesn’t permeate their lives. It doesn’t fill their minds and hearts. It doesn’t overflow into their conversations.
The apostle Paul told his friend Philemon that he should be “active in sharing” his faith, so that he could get a “full understanding” of what it means to be a Christian. In other words, Paul says if we want to grow up, we need to get active in witnessing. That’s where our faith is truly sharpened.
So let’s break out of our holy huddles and start talking to the people outside of our churches about how our story and God’s story has intersected.
Perhaps the clearest mark of a mature Christian is not the soundness of their doctrine, nor the fervency of their worship, but the sacrificial love they express by telling others about their Savior.
Often the way it works out is people share their stories, and even though their story may intersect with God’s story they may not recognize or even realize it. Being there and prepared to share the Word is a fine way to share our witness.
Often the way it works out is people share their stories, and even though their story may intersect with Gods story they may not recognize or even realize it. Being there and prepared to share the Word is a fine way to share our witness.
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