2-16-2016

Good Morning All!!                                     

         Acts 1:8; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

     This may be one of the most difficult thoughts for a Christian to get their head around.  We are the witnesses; how the world views you is how the world views Christ.  It might be thought of like this.   You might claim to be a fan of the New York Yankees and you sit in the section of the fans of the New York Yankees but if you wear a Red Sox shirt and boo the Yankees and cheer for the Red Sox; who are you a fan of ?  Most would say you were a Red Sox fan but a Yankee pretender.  You might want everyone to think you were a Yankee fan, you may even want to be a Yankee fan but in reality, you are a Red Sox fan.

    Now extend that out.  Imagine there are ten or twelve of you “pretend fans.”  As other watch you, they begin to question what it means to be a Yankee fan; you are no different cheering for them than those who cheer against them.  People would question why being a Yankee fan was worth it.  These are a couple of the same comments people make about Christians; what’s the difference? 

    These comments often cut both ways.  The unbeliever will always try and find a way to turn away an attempt by you to witness to him.  This can include the comment that service times are inconvenient, service length is inconvenient, or any one of a number of other “reasons” for not coming to worship.  Yet do we live a life that points to being different?  Do we live a life as a witness to Jesus?

   We are the witnesses.  Paul calls us God’s workmanship; we bear the mark of the artisan who made us.  As God’s redeemed child we bear his mark and the world knows God through us.  When the world asks, “where is God?”  It is often because of the failure of God’s people to respond as God’s people.  We are witnesses one way or another.  We are either positive witnesses or we are poor witnesses.  People either see God’s love through us or they do not.  If they do not see, they question and wonder what good is it in being a Christian.

    Are you always worried or fearful?  You don’t need to be because God has promised you his love, his comfort, his companionship and the guarantee of eternal life.  Nothing in this life can or will separate you from God’s love or his plan for you.  In all that you do, God will always be with you.  He will never abandon you so you can live your life in confidence, certain of your true hope in Him.

Father, guide me to live my life as a beacon for you.  Remind me that this world has been overcome and the devil defeated.  Lead me to share your love with those around me.  Lead me to those who are in the most need of your comfort.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret