Feb. 27, 2015 WITNESS

Witness is one of those words we think of with a straightforward definition.  A WITNESS simply tells what he/she has seen.  Sadly, it is most often associated with a crime of some sort as well as varying degrees of fear in the re-telling.  But, what if I were to tell you that there was a different side to WITNESS.  The aforementioned meaning remains intact, so to speak, and the association becomes positive instead of negative.

As believers in Jesus, in Acts 1:8, we are instructed by Jesus Himself:

          “… you will be My witnesses… even to the ends of the earth.”

Now, obviously, we can’t attest to what Jesus did in the Bible except through faith.  However, we most definitely can give an “eye witness” account of what Jesus has done in OUR lives as well as those of our families and loved ones.  God gifts us with opportunities daily, if not hourly, to share how we are able to have joy in a seemingly joyless situation or peace or hope.  Those we share with may choose to not believe what we say, but that doesn’t make it any less true.  And, what’s funny is how many times those same people will come to us when they hit a rough patch.  So, obeying Jesus’ command, even if somewhat nerve-wracking, is beneficial to all involved.

I have a challenge for you during this Lent season, and after if you so choose.  Just as the Israelites built altars to attest to God’s continued faithfulness (no, you’re not building altars), I’d like you to keep a WITNESS JOURNAL. 

Now, before you panic, I don’t mean for you to log the people to whom you witness.  I would like you to write down each day how many times you “WINESS” God loving on you or your loved ones, so to speak.  Jot down the seemingly inconsequential (i.e. great parking spot, short line at the store, cashier using a coupon you didn’t have with you, etc…) to the big (i.e. new job, raise, health issues, etc…). What I hope we’ll notice as our “WITNESS ACCOUNT JOURNAL” gets fuller is that we see more of God’s faithfulness around us.  Not that it wasn’t there before, we just hadn’t intentionally “WITNESSED” it.  And, not that it’s all “walk in the park stuff” either because in the book of James, we are told there WILL be times of trial.  The key, however, is KNOWING we are not alone in those trials.  We can stand firm on our WITNESS accounts as well as those of others.  All of which Speak of God’s unconditional love and continued faithfulness.

Dear God-

I pray as we keep these WITNESS JOURNALS, we truly “see” how very much you love each and every one of us.  As we begin to truly “see” Your hand at work, I pray it “opens our eyes” to reveal the many other examples of Your faithfulness. 

Thank You Father for every single one of them, from those of long ago to those of today and to those yet to come.

Then I ask Oh God, embolden us to be the WITNESSES Your Son, Jesus, called us to be.  May we NEVER cower from sharing Your unconditional love, mercy and grace.

In Jesus’ Holy and Precious Name, we pray,

AMEN.

Shared by Debbie Lyons