#238 THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WITNESSING 10-5-26

Jesus told His disciples, “You shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). The Gospel is not meant to be kept in a corner. It is good news meant to be shared.

But there is an important distinction we should make. The apostles were eyewitnesses of the risen Christ. John wrote, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you” (1 John 1:3). Peter said, “We did not follow cunningly devised fables” but were “eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).

We are not eyewitnesses in that same apostolic sense. We did not walk with Jesus through Galilee. We did not see Him crucified. We did not stand at the empty tomb and see the risen Lord.

But that does not mean we have nothing to witness.

We witness to what we have learned, believed, experienced, and seen God do through His word.

THE MESSAGE WE WITNESS

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Our message is not something we invent. We point people to the gospel.

Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

We witness by opening the Bible and telling people what God has done through Christ.

THE LIFE WE WITNESS

Our lives can reinforce the message we proclaim.

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

People may not accept our preaching, but they should be able to see Christ reflected in the way we live.

Our patience can witness.

Our kindness can witness.

Our forgiveness can witness.

Our faithfulness can witness.

We are not apostles, but we are disciples.

THE LOVE THAT WITNESSES

“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). And a few verses later he says, “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

We witness because people need Jesus.

There is no joy quite like watching someone open the Bible, understand the gospel, believe it, and turn toward Christ.

So tell what you know.

Share what you have learned.

Live what you believe.

Point people to Jesus.

The apostles witnessed what they had personally seen and heard. We witness to the truth they recorded and handed down to us.

We are not eyewitnesses of the resurrection.

But we are witnesses of the gospel of the risen Christ.

And that is wonderful news worth telling.

BDD