Scripture of The Day
March 29,2021
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:14, NLT)
By Ed Henderson (2016)
In other devotionals we have talked about men being created in the likeness and image of God as a “speaking spirit”. I want to follow-up on that thought by concentrating on what a witness is and what they are called to do. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a legal witness as: “a person who makes a statement in a court about what he or she knows or has seen”. We live in a time when political correctness is rampant. Some groups are trying their best to remove all references and talk concerning the Bible and Jesus. By the way, they have been trying that unsuccessfully for over 2000 years.
In the Book of Acts we see where the religious leaders told the Apostles to quit speaking in the name of Jesus: But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:17-18) And what was the response from the Apostles? But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:19-20)
I will never forget arguing with God when He first called me to be a preacher. God, I am not trained in theology! I am not a good speaker and I don’t have a clue what I would even talk about! This was His response to my plea for sympathy: Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9) In other words, just be a witness about what you learn, receive, hear, and see as you walk with me. It’s that simple! It’s all about relationship and testifying about what you experience with Him.
Some people have made witnessing a legalistic mandate. They have missed the point. If you don’t walk with Him, and talk with Him, and learn, receive, hear and see Him work, then you do not have anything to witness about. To be an effective witness you have to know Him intimately. People can tell if you’ve been with Jesus. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) The key is, “they had been with Jesus”. Have you been with Jesus? Do you want to be an effective witness? Get with Him!!! If you do, you will have plenty to talk about.
