Called to Be a Witness
Passage to read: Acts 13: 26-52
"After this, for many days,
those who had gone with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him.
They are now his witnesses to the people."
(Acts 13: 31)
We are called to be witnesses for Christ Jesus. We are called by His mighty grace to stand as a living proof to the world. Our words and our deeds are to be, by every possibility, a witness for the wonderful characteristics of our God of love and compassion. And, as his disciples, we are called to be His witness, not just in the church and in the midst of believers of Jesus, but also in our schools, institutes, workplaces, societies, and also in the nation. We must stand as sole witnesses for the wonderful mission of Christ Jesus on earth and the purpose of His mission; eternity for all human beings.
In the passage we have read for the day (Acts 13: 26-52), we are able to see Paul standing in the midst of the congregation at the synagogue in Antioch. Paul leads the congregation into a time of flashbacks, helping them to reflect back on what they have come through in the past, and also addresses the gentiles.
People here in this synagogue had heard about Jesus, but still they were waiting for the right witnesses to stand before them and tell that one moving experience that would make go forward in the walk of faith. After mentioning the miraculous way in which the scriptures written about Jesus came true, Paul claims something that is important for us as the disciples of Jesus.
Paul says in Acts 13:31, "those who had gone with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him." Those who became powerful witness of Jesus and His mission on earth had seen Him! They had seen what he did. They had seen how miraculous he was. They had seen Him talking to them even after the images of Jesus hanging on the cross remained in them. They saw Him! And all they had to do was to share what they had seen and experienced.
My dear friend in Christ Jesus. We know that we have been called to be witnesses for Jesus. We understand that we are called to be sharing to this world how amazing and wonderful His ways are and what great love brought Jesus into this world in human form. We are invited to share the life-assuring witness of the cross and the resurrection. And to do all these, one of the most essential experience we, as witnesses, should have is, the personal and intimate experience with God. We should first see Him. We should have that life-changing experiences with Him. Our intimacy with God should grow to such a level, that you are sure of what God spoke to you just the earlier day. You should remember what secret God shared with you just in that morning. You must first experience God. You must first experience His love and grace in your life. You must see Him. And Paul ends that important point by saying "they ( those who had been with Jesus and had seen Him) are now his witnesses to the people." Those who had seen what others could not, stood as the sole witnesses to the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Today, as you continue your walk of faith, I want to remind you first of all that we are all called to be witnesses for the grace and love of Jesus. As His own ambassadors, we are also called to experience His love first. Let the wonderment of His grace change your life forever. And then, once you have experienced His love, let it fuel you to stand in all possible courtrooms of the world, to stand strong and testify the love of Jesus and His everlasting purpose.
I pray that God will lead you through a life-changing time of experiencing Him intimately, knowing who He is, and knowing in your strengthened faith that He lives. May you be a great witness in this world for Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
"I want to know You more" by Don Moen"
