Eye Witness Account
Photo by Amanda Dalbjörn on Unsplash
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. – Acts 1:8
Most of my life, I was terrified of telling others about Jesus.
Pastors, preachers, and teachers repeatedly quoted aloud, “Go, make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:9) Incredible words spoken by Jesus to His disciples in what is referred to as the ‘Great Commission.’ Jesus goes on to say, “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded.” I do not know about you, but for me, I always felt unworthy and unqualified to tell others about Jesus.
I was introduced to Jesus in my youth. I knew of Him, but I never really knew-knew Him until decades later. For the majority of my Christian journey, I was what I call a “check-the-box” Christian. I regularly went to church, helped out when called upon, and lived a fairly moral lifestyle. I couldn't recall Scripture references and didn't have answers to all the tough questions people often asked. I sure wasn’t one for Biblical debates. I only shared about Jesus on the rare occasion someone asked me. I was far from volunteering.
Not until a life-altering accident that completely changed my life did I finally, and truly, experience a real relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I learned to tell my story, my personal encounter with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, by sharing my intimate experience.
Eventually, I found that people were drawn to my story, not because of me, but because they could find themselves somewhere in it. Once they found a connection, they were open to how Jesus worked in and through it all.
In a recent a-ha moment, I learned a priceless lesson that has removed all fear of sharing Jesus with others. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says, “You shall be witnesses to Me.” I love that! We are to be witnesses. Not judges, or juries, or debating lawyers, but a witness. One who gives a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced. When we witness for Jesus, we simply tell others what He has done for us. That is our testimony; sharing what we know.
Of course, the more time we spend in God’s Word, the more we learn how His will for our lives affects our witness. The more we learn, the more we know. The more we know about God, the more we can apply it to our lives, which in turn increases our testimony. The greater the testimony, the greater the witness we have to share with others.
May you share what you know about God…how He has changed your life.
Questions for Reflection:
1. When and how did you first meet Jesus?
2. How is Jesus changing your life?
3. How are you growing in your knowledge of God?
