THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS IS REFLECTED IN OUR WITNESSING OF JESUS

I want to start by making a bold statement which will get us thinking: We can only know how serious we take our faith in Jesus Christ by how we make it our ambition to share it as much as possible with the people we meet. It can be those whom we come across as we visit stores; those whom we meet as we walk in the streets or wait by the bus stop; or talking to colleagues at work and school; or even the friends and families we share life with. Basically, we talking about the people who are in our community and sphere of movements.

Now if you like me, I know this is a continuous struggle to share my faith because of the pride in my heart, or the fear of being rejected by people and sounding controversial about an exclusive faith. But here is were it makes the difference: when it actually bothers you that you not doing something about it, to a point you badly want to do something about it. And not out of guilt but out of conviction of God’s Word, a love for Jesus and the recipient and an understanding of God’s story for the world.

The principle is: you share with people what matters the most to you.

Have you ever seen people who are in love or just got married? every conversation they have with people has to involve the name of their partner or something that has to do with them. They just can’t help but talk about the one person that means the most to them. It is also hopeful of our Lord Jesus to see us become moved by our love for Him and His love for us to the extent of telling people about His work of love and grace at the Cross of Calvary. I often look at it this way, that we do the things that matters the most to the people we love. Well, to Jesus it is simply for us “to make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). It is easy for us to excuse witnessing as a preference for some and a “gift” for the “called”, and not a responsibility and privilege for all who follow Him. Lets face it, we don’t all have robust personalities that can stand before crowds and speak of Jesus Christ, but we do have in many ways opportunities to start conversations with anyone at any given point in time. I have realised that as people, we are almost willing to discuss anything, from sports, to music, to movies and politics, but our minds can hold back from sharing something that will impact the eternal destination of people. Jesus is truly personal but he is not private, and He surely is not interested in remaining as a secret.

At many times I fail my Master in my passiveness to share about the work of the Cross, but if there’s one thing we know, the Lord is very passionate about making sure that we take the work of His salvation to the world seriously. Whatever gifts, skills, relationships, opportunities the Lord has given us, let us use it to let the world know of what He has done for us and can do for them. Maybe we don’t have the urgency to witness because it has not really bothered us enough that life and death without Jesus Christ is meaningless & it leads people to an eternal separation from God in Hell. If we kept that in the forefront of our minds and we asked God that it bothers us until we do something about it, I am sure it may change our attitude.

Maybe you may think that, “is it not a bit harsh and rigid of you in your perception of Christian living, for you to suggest that the seriousness of my faith in Jesus is determined by how I go about witnessing?” Well, if we choose to see it that way, it may sound a bit harsh but if we allow the Bible as the bases of our conviction, we most likely to come out agreeing on that statement and become challenged by it. If we read in the Bible, do you think the Lord would probably excuse us for not sharing our faith or He would expect us to do so, and do it relentlessly? I am challenged to commit my life to doing something more about it, and I would encourage you to do the same. Will you care to join me to “fill” the joy of the Lord in winning many souls into His Kingdom?

Blessings
Sibusiso