November 5

Witness-bearing For Christ

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. — Acts 1:8 BSB

Every machine needs power to function. A car might be shiny and new, with rubber tires and all the latest features, but it won’t move an inch without the power that drives it. So it is with the Gospel message. Christ died and rose again, and the work of redemption was completed. His disciples were appointed to carry the message of salvation to the world, but they couldn’t do anything until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a serious question for each of us—have I received the Holy Spirit as my source of power? (Acts 19:2). If not, it’s no wonder we feel weak and our witness for Christ is hesitant.

Consider the circles of our life: we are to be witnesses in Jerusalem, which represents our home; in Judea—the society where we live and work; in Samaria—the city, town, or village where we live; and the ends of the earth, which represent the far-reaching claims of the world. We bear some responsibility for each of these. Let’s begin at Jerusalem, in our homes, and God will lead us step by step to the world beyond. Sadly, there are many who are eager to reach the “ends of the earth,” yet they neglect their own Jerusalem and ignore the needs of Judea!

God calls us to be witnesses. A witness isn’t expected to reason or argue, but simply to state what they have seen or heard—to share the facts. We are asked to tell others what we have found in Jesus, what we have experienced firsthand of the Word of Life (1 John 1:1-3). Our witness-box may be our place of work, or wherever we interact with those who don’t know Christ. People can’t see Him unless they see Him reflected in us. Just as the moon reflects the sun during the night, so the Church reflects the light of Christ. In every moment of need, let us lift our hearts to Christ, and ask that His Spirit empower us to be true witnesses for His glory.

Prayer

My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim and spread throughout the earth the honor of Your name. Amen.