Recently I’ve been taking a deeper look into the lives of the men and women in the New Testament. As I’ve been studying their lives, I’ve seen a recurring theme – believers together risking their very lives to bring the message of Christ to those around them. I was encouraged by their unquenchable faith.
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the definition of the word witness is: the attestation of a fact or event (testimony), or one that gives evidence. The Greek word is Martyria. What I found interesting is that the Greek word is very similar to the word martyr, which means one who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ.
When I hear the word witness, I think of Stephen in Acts chapter 7 who, as the first Christian martyr, faced a crowd of angry people with stones in their hands for the sake of Christ. Stephen didn’t back down. He was confident that being a witness for Christ was more important than his own life.
I think of Peter who walked close with Jesus and gave up his life as a fisherman to lead others to Christ. When his Savior ascended into heaven, he didn’t give up. He continued to spread the good news of the gospel to the lost, and gained an eternal reward because of it. Peter testified that Jesus was who He said He was, and his life was transformed as a result.
There are countless stories of men and women throughout scripture who stood as witnesses for Christ Jesus, and we’ve also been called to do the same.
Once we’re confident in Christ and have a firm foundation in our faith, we’re called to go out and rescue the lost. We aren’t to keep the truth hidden while living for ourselves. God has commissioned us to partake in the biggest mission in the world: to make Christ known to those sitting in the darkness we were once in.
God has provided many ways for us to do this, but every avenue starts in the Word. If we don’t know scripture, we can’t share the true gospel message with others around us. Storing up in our hearts the truths of God’s Word enables us to powerfully minister to those around us. We can then shine Christ in our community, share scripture with a hurting friend or family member, and refute unbiblical worldviews.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16
“A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.” -Proverbs 14:25
The Lord is faithful to bring us opportunities to witness to those around us as we ask Him, but we must also be willing to be a witness for Jesus Christ in our everyday lives. The world is watching us. If we’re set apart from the world and choose to match the image of our Savior, they’ll see that.
From cover to cover, the Bible is centered around Christ. As His children, our lives are to be centered around Him too. Being a witness for Christ shouldn’t be separated from our daily lives, but rather should be incorporated into every detail of our being. Jesus led us by example, so we should strive to lead others to Him by example, too.
God promises us that He’ll give us the grace we need as His witnesses even when it’s hard. His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 9:8).
May we live boldly as witnesses for Jesus Christ so that those in the dark, seeing something different in us, will have their eyes opened to the truth and may even become one of us.
1 John 1:1-4 – “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
Written by NBB Alumna: Hannah Kohner
