Week of February 14, 2010
John 8:12-32
What You Need To Know To Be a Witness
MONDAY, FEBRUARY <Read 15 Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19; John 1:1-5>
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12
The first thing we need to know is the Person we are telling others about. In the art of selling, the maxim is that you cannot be a good salesman unless you know the product you are selling. In many ways, the same is true with our faith. When we witness, we are telling people about Jesus. The question for all of us is do we know Him well enough to tell others about Him? This does not mean we need a seminary degree or know Him perfectly. It does mean we know Him, love Him and are trying to follow Him as best we can. In other words, do we have a real growing relationship with Him? Is He the love and light of our lives? Some good questions we ask ourselves go something like this: First, on a scale of one to ten, where would you say your relationship with Jesus is right now? Second, do you want it to be better? Third, what are you willing to do to make it better? What are you willing to do?
Prayer: “Day by Day, Day by Day, O, Dear Lord, Three things I pray: To see Thee More Clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly, Day by Day” Amen.
(Day by Day, The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #55)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 <Read 1 Peter 3:13-18>
“Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12b
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
The second thing we need to know is the message we are trying to communicate. If you had the opportunity, could you tell someone how they could become a Christian? Could you tell them the truth about their need for forgiveness and a holy and loving God who has provided it to set them free from condemnation? Could you tell them how Jesus is your light and walk in His light? Could you tell them what it means to walk in the light? Sadly, many Christians could not do so either because they do not really know themselves, are too embarrassed or too busy with other things. Knowing the message is the first step in expressing it when the opportunity presents itself. The same questions in the previous message apply. How well do you know the message? Do you want to know it better? What are you willing to do to make your knowledge better?
Prayer: Lord, give me a hunger to know your Gospel, not just to know the right words and phrases, but to know it so well because I have myself have experienced what you have done for me and I want with all my heart to tell others about the light and the truth and love I have known from You. Amen.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 <Read John 3:16-18>
“I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” John 8: 24
Do we really believe that people can be lost, forever separate from God? Judging by how we act in our churches, one might conclude that we do not. If we hear about ways to avoid cancer or lose weight, we are sure to tell others about it. We support laws regulating speed and building codes and some of us are supportive of the laws regulating smoking and trans-fat. Rarely, if ever, do we mention the absolute worst thing that could even happen to someone: dying without having the opportunity for forgiveness and spending eternity separate from God. Jesus makes it clear to the religious leaders that they will die in their sins because they did not believe in Him. Before we can be effective witnesses for Christ, we need two things. The first is love. We need to love people enough to tell them the greatest news there is. Second, we need a sense of urgency. Many around us are driving headlong off an eternal cliff. Are we willing to at least put up a stop sign? Are we willing to let the love of Christ, who went so far to die for the lost, to influence us to speak?
Prayer: Lord, give me the same missionary heart that you have, the heart that went to the lengths of becoming human and living among us so we as lost people might see you as you are and be found;, the heart that was willing to die so to that we might be forgive and so saved from being separate from you. Give me that heart. Give me that love. Amen.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 <Read Romans 10:8-15>
“Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. John 8:25
If we will be witnesses for Christ, we can expect opposition. The leaders first questioned Jesus’ truthfulness (v.13). Second, they questioned His parentage (v.19), probably referring to rumors that Joseph was not His real father and therefore He was illegitimate. Third, they mocked Him, asking where He is going, suggesting (perhaps hopefully) that He might kill Himself (22). In Jesus’ time, it was thought that anyone who killed themselves would end up in the deepest part of hell. Last, they ask “Who are you?” They did not really want to know. To them, He was a no body, illegitimate in every way. As we witness for Christ, we can always expect questions, both good and bad, and we should answer as best we can. At the same time, we should also expect those who ask questions, not because they want real answers, but because their intent is to insult, mock or ridicule. Are we willing to have our truthfulness or background questioned, to be ridiculed, mocked or thought unintelligent? In the end, we must remember it does not matter what others think of us. It only matters what the Lord thinks. He loves us and we are His children and that makes all the difference.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know you are with me and nothing can harm me or separate me from your love. Give me patience and love when others try to insult me. Give me peace and a clear mind when they try to turn me from the message you have given. Amen
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 <Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10>
“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” John 8:29
One of the questions we ought to ask ourselves as Christians is why we do things. Why do we go to church? Why do we serve others? Why do we worship? Is it to please a spouse, a parent or boss? Is it what we get out of it mostly? It is some kind of guilt? These forms of motivation are not always bad, and sometimes they are at least a place to start, but they are inadequate. Being a powerful witness for Christ and indeed leading our Christian lives, requires that our basic motivation for anything we do should be to please our Lord. This was Jesus’ motivation and it should be ours. A good place to begin is to ask ourselves some simple questions in much that we do. Am I doing what I am doing because I love Jesus? Or, have I or will I stop doing something because I love Jesus? If we learn to please God more, we will experience the blessing of knowing our Lord’s presence more and more.
Prayer: Lord, help me Love you more and make my one desire to please you in all things; so that I might more and more like my Lord and my savior Jesus. Amen.