The Great Sending, Chapter 38

STUDY 38: A Kingdom of Priests who Witness

pp. 191-193
Reference:  Isaiah 43:10,12,21; 1 Peter 2:4-10

Reverand Dr. Gerhard Michael

What can help us witness faithfully and effectively?

If we priests are going to be effective witnesses, we will undoubtedly need to be keen observers of the people with whom we wish to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Without being with them, listening to them, and getting to know them, how will we know how best to connect with them?

And in being with them and listening to them, what might we learn about them that calls for our witness? Might they be discouraged or lonely? Perhaps they are facing health issues that pose more questions than answers. Are they struggling with a relationship? Confronting a difficult decision in the workplace?
Might they be burdened by the guilt of past mistakes? Or, might they be totally indifferent to the spiritual side of life, focused only on the here and now? What if they are quite religious but self- righteous, confident that because of their moral behavior they can face the bar of God's justice unafraid? Might they be prospering, thinking their success is the guarantee to an enjoyable future?

By listening to and cultivating a relationship with another person, we can shape our testimony to relate with her or him in ways that meaningfully connect us. We won't be people with a canned sales pitch who totally miss the hearts and minds of those with whom we are speaking. By listening carefully, we will be able, through God’s grace, to share the good news of Jesus sensitively and appropriately.

The beautiful reality is that we have excellent news to tell. Peter speaks of us proclaiming the aretas of the "one who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." The English Standard Version translates aretas as "excellencies," a word connoting noble characteristics. Other versions translate aretas as "mighty acts." The Greek word actually embraces both aspects – the qualities and the actions – and that is most helpful. It tells us that we have a Savior whose all-sufficient character is such that He can handle any situation any person might be facing.

Think of Jesus's qualities: compassionate, wise, powerful, meek, faithful, loving, responsive, caring, forgiving, encouraging. The list is endless. His traits are all-encompassing. Most encouraging is that those qualities get expressed in words of wisdom and hope, forgiveness, and love – and in deeds of kindness and compassion. Jesus heals the sick, restores sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He multiplies the loaves and fishes to feed the multitudes. He stills the storm and raises the dead. The "Light of the world" brings people out of the darkness of fear and sin into the sunlight of new life. Jesus is indeed worth sharing!

It is important for us to remember is that our witnessing is needed not only in the world, but also in the church. We believers are still this side of heaven and find ourselves on occasion slipping from saintly behavior into sinful conduct. Without the loving witness of fellow Christians to correct and encourage us, we can easily fail to promote our Lord. But with that loving witness of others, we are strengthened to proclaim the wondrous news of our Savior.