"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
“In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea and saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert], Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct). This same John's garments were made of camel's hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.” (Matthew 3:1-4)
Sometimes we (okay I here) define expectations about how a witness should look. I get caught in exterior appearances such as dress, drinking, swearing, smoking, etc. I start defining how Christian someone is by how they appear.
Too often we are shocked to find out that the man who dresses so nice, never swears, doesn't smoke or drink, always seems considerate of others, shows up every week at church with his wife and children, and leads a monthly men's prayer meeting is having an affair.
At the same time, we are shocked to find out that the man who wears the “Hell on Wheels” t-shirt, swears, has multiple tattoos and smokes cigars is leading a men's bible study and fellowship at his home for bikers with his wife that he is totally devoted to.
Character is not determined by outside characteristics such as dress and education but by the consistent choices a person makes in their heart. God forms our character more and more into His likeness as we seek after Him in humility out of love for Him. It is our continuous choices to lay down our self life to serve Him that forms our character in His likeness.
Ellen G. White writes, “It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for esteem of others ay produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions.” [1]
This was very true of the Pharisees and Sadducees in the time of Jesus. They looked respectable and acted respectable. In fact, many made a huge show of their generous actions, however their hearts were far from God. All their actions were show to get the approval and admiration of the people around them. What they lacked, was a nearness of God.
In fact, when God came near them, they rejected Him because their hearts were hard and God was interfering with the approval and admiration they so sought after. Instead of receiving Him, the plotted to kill Him in order to keep what they had worked so hard to obtain – their position of respect and honor in front of people.
Jesus spoke in Matthew 8:11-12, "I tell you, many will come from east and west, and will sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons and hairs of the kingdom will be driven out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
Ellen G. White asks, “By what means, then shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies?” [2]
It is possible to be “Christian” but dwell far from God and not know the nearness of His intimate presence or be formed more and more into His likeness. As Helen Trowbridge noted on Friday night at a women's conference at Resurrection Life Church, many Christians stay in the “outer court” choosing distance as they hold onto their sin. They are “Christians” by the world standards but their hearts are not truly pursuing Him. In this place, they do not know the experiential daily nearness of His presence.
She referred to Ezekiel 44:10-17 as a shadow of this where God in His mercy gave the Levites who were pursuing idols a place to minister in His sanctuary, but it was those Levites who were not pursing idols that were given a place in the inner court to minister before Him.
Ezekiel 44:10-17 says, “But the Levites who went far away fro Me when Israel went astray, who went astray fro Me after their idols, they shall bear [the punishment for] their iniquity and guilt. They shall minister in My sanctuary, having oversight as guards at the gates of the temple and ministering in the temple. They shall slay burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend the people to serve them.
Because [the priests] ministered to [the people] before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity and guilt to the house of Israel, therefore I have lifted up My hand and have sworn against them, says the Lord God, that they shall bear the punishment for the iniquity and guilt.
And they shall not come near to Me to do the office of a priest to Me nor come near to any of My holy things that are most sacred; but they shall bear their shame and their punishment for the abominations which they have committed. Yet I will appoint them as caretakers to have charge of the temple, for all the service of the temple and for all that will be done in it.
But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me, and they shall attend Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God.”
Ultimately if we are pursuing Christ with all our hearts, we will take on His character. It is our nearness to Him that forms us to be like Him. Ellen G. White goes on to write, “Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law 'Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.' 1 John 3:7.” [3]
In this place of nearness to Him, we still all look and minister very different from each other as Christians. How our witness looks and how we are a witness is completely different based upon how we are individually wired.
For example, John the Baptist came out of the desert baptizing and calling people to repent. He was a prophet whose purpose was to prepare the way (in the heart's of men) for the Lord's coming by calling people to repent and baptizing them.
Matthew 3:4 says about him, “This same John's garments were made of camel's hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.” Both his dress and his demeanor was consistent with who he was, his calling, and how he was specifically wired.
Matthew 3:7-8 goes on to says about John the Baptist, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming? Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart].”
Matthew, on the other hand, was wired totally different that John the Baptist. He was a tax collector who was called to follow Jesus. He was someone who was received by other tax collectors and sinners. As he invited Jesus to Matthew's house, many tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners came and sat (reclined) with Him and His disciples.” (Matthew 9:10)
Not a great deal is known about Matthew other than he was one of the twelve disciples, literate, knows the books of the Old Testament Bible, and at least somewhat educated. What is known is that a significant part of his witness was writing the first gospel.
Knowing the importance to his fellow Israelites of lineage, Matthew starts the gospel by first establishing the lineage of Jesus as the Messiah. Matthew also draws special attention to the three sets of fourteen generations.
He writes in Matthew 1:17, “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, from David to the Babylonian exile (deportation) fourteen generations, from the Babylonian exile to the Christ fourteen generations.”
Commentary notes about this, “The name David in Hebrew has a numerical value of fourteen. Because the heading of the list is “Son of David” (v. 1), Matthew may have been drawing attention to the Davidic emphasis in these names. In the first group, the Davidic throne is established; in the second group, the throne is cast down and deported to Babylon; in the third group, the throne is confirmed in the coming of the Messiah. Further, a basic covenant is set forth in each of these three periods: the Abrahamic covenant in the first (vv. 2–5); the Davidic covenant in the second (vv. 6–11), and the New Covenant in the third (vv. 12–16).” [4]
Matthew then goes into the story of the circumstances around the birth of Jesus. He is careful to list important details that show God's divine workings and that His birth was not in anyway ordinary. He is also careful to outline events that are a fulfillment of prophesy.
As an example in Matthew 2:14-15 he writes, “And having risen [Joseph from a dream from God where he was told to flee to Egypt], he took the Child and His mother by night and withdrew to Egypt. And remained there until Herod's death. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”
Another witness who was very different than both John the Baptist and Matthew was the woman at the well. She had came to the well to draw water when she ran into Jesus. She was a woman who had five husbands and was living with another man who was not her husband (John 4:18).
Jesus didn't judge her but had offered her living water to drink. He treated her with care and respect as He revealed first to her that He was the Messiah that all have been waiting for. She ran from there, left her water and told everyone that she ran into a man who told her everything she ever did and asked, “Can this be [is not this] the Christ?” (John 4:29)
John 4:39 goes on to say, “Now numerous Samaritans from that town believed in and trusted in Him because of what the woman said when she declared and testified, He told me everything that I ever did.”
Another witness that was different than all of these was paralyzed man. Jesus told him in Matthew 9:2, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted. Then knowing the people's hearts did not believe he could forgive sins he went on to make him a witness of his forgiveness through this mans healing.
In Matthew 9:5 He asks, “For which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted, or to say, Get up and walk? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins and remit the penalty, He then said to the paralyzed man, Get up! Pick up your sleeping pad and go to your own house.”
The paralyzed man was not specifically witnessing Christ, but by stepping into what God had for him by faith, he was a witness to all around him of God's goodness. Matthew 9:8 says, “When the crowds saw it, they were struck with fear and awe; and they recognized God and praised and thanked Him, Who had given such power and authority to men.
Other examples of witnesses are the two blind men that Jesus healed. They cried out for Jesus to have pity and mercy on them (Matthew 9:27). He opened their eyes and healed them and charged them not to let anyone know. Matthew 9:31 says, “But they went off and blazed and spread His fame abroad throughout that whole district.”
A final example of a witness shining the light of Christ by being who God wired Him to be from the Bible was the roman centurion (captain) in Matthew 8:5. He came to Jesus begging Him for help. These soldiers were viewed by the Israelites as ruthless authorities. Yet, this centurion came to Jesus humbling himself and begging Him to heal his servant boy who was back lying in his house distressed and with intense pain.
This young servant boy was a slave who was not capable to work. In most cases back in this time, a slave who could not work for his keep would be discarded. Yet this centurion had a heart that was full of compassion. He put value on this slave and became his servant as he cared for all this slave's needs.
This centurion, who would have been hated by the Israelites for who he was, not only showed a compassion and mercy towards a paralyzed slave that most Israelites lacked but he also demonstrated tremendous faith. He did not feel worthy to have Jesus to his house, and believed if Jesus spoke a word, that the servant would be healed.
Matthew 8:10 says, "When Jesus heard him, He marveled and said to those who followed Him [who adhered steadfastly to Him, conforming to His example in living and, if need be, in dying also], I tell you truly, I have not found so much faith as this with anyone, even in Israel.”
On occassion I have heard it said that as Christian's we should dress and act appropriately as to be a 'good witness' to those who do not know Christ. Somewhere in this I think at times I have believed that if I act appropriately, say the right things and look like I have everything together that others will want to be Christians. And if I don't put on a good front, it will be a hindrance to them. However, trying to put on an image to get others to do what I want, even if it is for their benefit, is manipulation.
What matters is not someones external appearances or specific actions alone, what matters is our heart towards God and the corresponding heart towards others as we receive His love and give it away. The witness that we present is based upon who we are at the core and our genuine exuberance for God – not getting our external actions, behaviors and dress right.
A friend of mine recently told me a story about a beautiful young woman in college. In class when people would mention God in a wrong light, she couldn't help herself to speak up. She would tell the person in her class with passion, “God is not like that, He loves you!”
For someone else who is wired differently, this may be totally inappropriate, appear phony and be out of character. Their means of being a witness may be noticing the person in the class who never talks with anyone else, always looks down and appears lonely. This person may have compassion for them being left out and make friends. By their genuine friendship, they become a witness to their friends of His goodness. And by their genine friendship eventually lead them to know the Lord.
This was the same for the disciples. They all were wired differently and demonstrated their witness different. Peter was boisterous, loved the limelight and was outspoken. When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, Peter rose up filled with the Spirit and witnessed Christ to the devout Jews from every country. As a result of his witness that day, about 3000 people came to know Christ. (Acts 2)
Andrew, Peter's brother, on the other hand, seemed to be wired totally different. We do not read any stories of him giving major speeches or leading thousands to Christ like his brother. However, Andrew was not without significant influence. His influence seemed to be more on an individual level. It was because of Andrew that Peter came to know the Lord.
While the disciples were wired differently from each other, Jesus sent them all out to bring the kingdom of God to those around them who needed it. They were not to go to a people in a far away land that they did not know, but to the people in their very backyard.
Jesus tells them in Matthew 10:5-6, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and do not go into any town of the Samaritans; But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” They were not to take anything with them but use what was put right in front of them. And they were not only to be witnesses but to bring the kingdom of God to those who needed it with demonstration of its power.
As Jesus endued them with His power and authority, He instructed them in Matthew 10:7-8, “And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out the demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.”
All Christians are called to be witnesses of Christ by who they are (new creatures in Christ) and their relationship with Him. Jesus says in Matthew 5:19, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”
And while each person is wired uniquely and their witness looks very different from other Christians, followers of Christ do have common characteristics in their witness with each other. Foremost, Christians are called to love God and others.
Jesus spoke in Matthew 22:337-38, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and firt sommandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself."
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me) I gain nothing.”
Another example of characteristics that all Christians have in common is brokenness being the road to coming alive and being a bright witness. Out of their love for God, Christians carry attitudes that make room for God in their lives and call them into His likeness.
Jesus sits down and teaches his disciples in Matthew 5:3-12 the beatitudes. He tells them:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Pastor Dave Johnson writes about the beatitudes, “And what He taught was essentially this: 'Guys, I've got some good news for you. But I've got some bad news for you, too. The good news is this: All of the power you saw Me demonstrate is real -and it's all for you. My kingdom is about authority over sickness and authority over demons. It's about power and glory, and it is absolutely mind-boggling. And guys -I want you to experience all of it. My deepest desire is that you will know genuine joy and fulfillment.
But the bad news is this: My kingdom will not always come the way you think. This kingdom that I have brought will not be for the powerful and the power-hungry. It is not for the self-gratified and self-gratifying. Rather, it is a kingdom and a power that will be realized by those who are weak and dependent and mourning over their sin and hungry for righteousness. And if you've followed Me because you yearn for the power and the glory and all these amazing miracles, you will never know the reality of the kingdom that you seek. Because, you see, in My kingdom, blessed are the broken. It is to the broken that the kingdom belongs, and it will be through the broken ones that the power will flow.” [5]
It sings, "You and I were made to worship, You and I were called to love, you and I are forgiven and free" in the background.
Lord, forgive me where I have tried to be a good witness in my own strength. Forgive me where I at times have thought I needed to have the right things to say, be in the right place and be wired different to be an effective witness.
You bring the kingdom of God anywhere that you send your children out. Help us to be attentive to kingdom opportunities right where we are to reach out to others around us in love. Let us shine brightly in this dark world.
As "Your name to shine for all to see... Glory in the highest" sings in the background, I long for all to see You through shining through all Your children.
1-3. White, Ellen G. Peace Above the Storm. Pacific Press Publishing Association, Nampa, Idaho. 1994.
4. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Mt 1:17
5. Johnson, David with Allen, Tom. Joy Comes in The Mourning …and other blessings in disguise. Christian Publications, Camp Hill, PA. 1998.
This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert], Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct). This same John's garments were made of camel's hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.” (Matthew 3:1-4)
Sometimes we (okay I here) define expectations about how a witness should look. I get caught in exterior appearances such as dress, drinking, swearing, smoking, etc. I start defining how Christian someone is by how they appear.
Too often we are shocked to find out that the man who dresses so nice, never swears, doesn't smoke or drink, always seems considerate of others, shows up every week at church with his wife and children, and leads a monthly men's prayer meeting is having an affair.
At the same time, we are shocked to find out that the man who wears the “Hell on Wheels” t-shirt, swears, has multiple tattoos and smokes cigars is leading a men's bible study and fellowship at his home for bikers with his wife that he is totally devoted to.
Character is not determined by outside characteristics such as dress and education but by the consistent choices a person makes in their heart. God forms our character more and more into His likeness as we seek after Him in humility out of love for Him. It is our continuous choices to lay down our self life to serve Him that forms our character in His likeness.
Ellen G. White writes, “It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for esteem of others ay produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions.” [1]
This was very true of the Pharisees and Sadducees in the time of Jesus. They looked respectable and acted respectable. In fact, many made a huge show of their generous actions, however their hearts were far from God. All their actions were show to get the approval and admiration of the people around them. What they lacked, was a nearness of God.
In fact, when God came near them, they rejected Him because their hearts were hard and God was interfering with the approval and admiration they so sought after. Instead of receiving Him, the plotted to kill Him in order to keep what they had worked so hard to obtain – their position of respect and honor in front of people.
Jesus spoke in Matthew 8:11-12, "I tell you, many will come from east and west, and will sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons and hairs of the kingdom will be driven out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
Ellen G. White asks, “By what means, then shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies?” [2]
It is possible to be “Christian” but dwell far from God and not know the nearness of His intimate presence or be formed more and more into His likeness. As Helen Trowbridge noted on Friday night at a women's conference at Resurrection Life Church, many Christians stay in the “outer court” choosing distance as they hold onto their sin. They are “Christians” by the world standards but their hearts are not truly pursuing Him. In this place, they do not know the experiential daily nearness of His presence.
She referred to Ezekiel 44:10-17 as a shadow of this where God in His mercy gave the Levites who were pursuing idols a place to minister in His sanctuary, but it was those Levites who were not pursing idols that were given a place in the inner court to minister before Him.
Ezekiel 44:10-17 says, “But the Levites who went far away fro Me when Israel went astray, who went astray fro Me after their idols, they shall bear [the punishment for] their iniquity and guilt. They shall minister in My sanctuary, having oversight as guards at the gates of the temple and ministering in the temple. They shall slay burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend the people to serve them.
Because [the priests] ministered to [the people] before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity and guilt to the house of Israel, therefore I have lifted up My hand and have sworn against them, says the Lord God, that they shall bear the punishment for the iniquity and guilt.
And they shall not come near to Me to do the office of a priest to Me nor come near to any of My holy things that are most sacred; but they shall bear their shame and their punishment for the abominations which they have committed. Yet I will appoint them as caretakers to have charge of the temple, for all the service of the temple and for all that will be done in it.
But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me, and they shall attend Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God.”
Ultimately if we are pursuing Christ with all our hearts, we will take on His character. It is our nearness to Him that forms us to be like Him. Ellen G. White goes on to write, “Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law 'Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.' 1 John 3:7.” [3]
In this place of nearness to Him, we still all look and minister very different from each other as Christians. How our witness looks and how we are a witness is completely different based upon how we are individually wired.
For example, John the Baptist came out of the desert baptizing and calling people to repent. He was a prophet whose purpose was to prepare the way (in the heart's of men) for the Lord's coming by calling people to repent and baptizing them.
Matthew 3:4 says about him, “This same John's garments were made of camel's hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.” Both his dress and his demeanor was consistent with who he was, his calling, and how he was specifically wired.
Matthew 3:7-8 goes on to says about John the Baptist, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming? Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart].”
Matthew, on the other hand, was wired totally different that John the Baptist. He was a tax collector who was called to follow Jesus. He was someone who was received by other tax collectors and sinners. As he invited Jesus to Matthew's house, many tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners came and sat (reclined) with Him and His disciples.” (Matthew 9:10)
Not a great deal is known about Matthew other than he was one of the twelve disciples, literate, knows the books of the Old Testament Bible, and at least somewhat educated. What is known is that a significant part of his witness was writing the first gospel.
Knowing the importance to his fellow Israelites of lineage, Matthew starts the gospel by first establishing the lineage of Jesus as the Messiah. Matthew also draws special attention to the three sets of fourteen generations.
He writes in Matthew 1:17, “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, from David to the Babylonian exile (deportation) fourteen generations, from the Babylonian exile to the Christ fourteen generations.”
Commentary notes about this, “The name David in Hebrew has a numerical value of fourteen. Because the heading of the list is “Son of David” (v. 1), Matthew may have been drawing attention to the Davidic emphasis in these names. In the first group, the Davidic throne is established; in the second group, the throne is cast down and deported to Babylon; in the third group, the throne is confirmed in the coming of the Messiah. Further, a basic covenant is set forth in each of these three periods: the Abrahamic covenant in the first (vv. 2–5); the Davidic covenant in the second (vv. 6–11), and the New Covenant in the third (vv. 12–16).” [4]
Matthew then goes into the story of the circumstances around the birth of Jesus. He is careful to list important details that show God's divine workings and that His birth was not in anyway ordinary. He is also careful to outline events that are a fulfillment of prophesy.
As an example in Matthew 2:14-15 he writes, “And having risen [Joseph from a dream from God where he was told to flee to Egypt], he took the Child and His mother by night and withdrew to Egypt. And remained there until Herod's death. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”
Another witness who was very different than both John the Baptist and Matthew was the woman at the well. She had came to the well to draw water when she ran into Jesus. She was a woman who had five husbands and was living with another man who was not her husband (John 4:18).
Jesus didn't judge her but had offered her living water to drink. He treated her with care and respect as He revealed first to her that He was the Messiah that all have been waiting for. She ran from there, left her water and told everyone that she ran into a man who told her everything she ever did and asked, “Can this be [is not this] the Christ?” (John 4:29)
John 4:39 goes on to say, “Now numerous Samaritans from that town believed in and trusted in Him because of what the woman said when she declared and testified, He told me everything that I ever did.”
Another witness that was different than all of these was paralyzed man. Jesus told him in Matthew 9:2, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted. Then knowing the people's hearts did not believe he could forgive sins he went on to make him a witness of his forgiveness through this mans healing.
In Matthew 9:5 He asks, “For which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted, or to say, Get up and walk? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins and remit the penalty, He then said to the paralyzed man, Get up! Pick up your sleeping pad and go to your own house.”
The paralyzed man was not specifically witnessing Christ, but by stepping into what God had for him by faith, he was a witness to all around him of God's goodness. Matthew 9:8 says, “When the crowds saw it, they were struck with fear and awe; and they recognized God and praised and thanked Him, Who had given such power and authority to men.
Other examples of witnesses are the two blind men that Jesus healed. They cried out for Jesus to have pity and mercy on them (Matthew 9:27). He opened their eyes and healed them and charged them not to let anyone know. Matthew 9:31 says, “But they went off and blazed and spread His fame abroad throughout that whole district.”
A final example of a witness shining the light of Christ by being who God wired Him to be from the Bible was the roman centurion (captain) in Matthew 8:5. He came to Jesus begging Him for help. These soldiers were viewed by the Israelites as ruthless authorities. Yet, this centurion came to Jesus humbling himself and begging Him to heal his servant boy who was back lying in his house distressed and with intense pain.
This young servant boy was a slave who was not capable to work. In most cases back in this time, a slave who could not work for his keep would be discarded. Yet this centurion had a heart that was full of compassion. He put value on this slave and became his servant as he cared for all this slave's needs.
This centurion, who would have been hated by the Israelites for who he was, not only showed a compassion and mercy towards a paralyzed slave that most Israelites lacked but he also demonstrated tremendous faith. He did not feel worthy to have Jesus to his house, and believed if Jesus spoke a word, that the servant would be healed.
Matthew 8:10 says, "When Jesus heard him, He marveled and said to those who followed Him [who adhered steadfastly to Him, conforming to His example in living and, if need be, in dying also], I tell you truly, I have not found so much faith as this with anyone, even in Israel.”
On occassion I have heard it said that as Christian's we should dress and act appropriately as to be a 'good witness' to those who do not know Christ. Somewhere in this I think at times I have believed that if I act appropriately, say the right things and look like I have everything together that others will want to be Christians. And if I don't put on a good front, it will be a hindrance to them. However, trying to put on an image to get others to do what I want, even if it is for their benefit, is manipulation.
What matters is not someones external appearances or specific actions alone, what matters is our heart towards God and the corresponding heart towards others as we receive His love and give it away. The witness that we present is based upon who we are at the core and our genuine exuberance for God – not getting our external actions, behaviors and dress right.
A friend of mine recently told me a story about a beautiful young woman in college. In class when people would mention God in a wrong light, she couldn't help herself to speak up. She would tell the person in her class with passion, “God is not like that, He loves you!”
For someone else who is wired differently, this may be totally inappropriate, appear phony and be out of character. Their means of being a witness may be noticing the person in the class who never talks with anyone else, always looks down and appears lonely. This person may have compassion for them being left out and make friends. By their genuine friendship, they become a witness to their friends of His goodness. And by their genine friendship eventually lead them to know the Lord.
This was the same for the disciples. They all were wired differently and demonstrated their witness different. Peter was boisterous, loved the limelight and was outspoken. When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, Peter rose up filled with the Spirit and witnessed Christ to the devout Jews from every country. As a result of his witness that day, about 3000 people came to know Christ. (Acts 2)
Andrew, Peter's brother, on the other hand, seemed to be wired totally different. We do not read any stories of him giving major speeches or leading thousands to Christ like his brother. However, Andrew was not without significant influence. His influence seemed to be more on an individual level. It was because of Andrew that Peter came to know the Lord.
While the disciples were wired differently from each other, Jesus sent them all out to bring the kingdom of God to those around them who needed it. They were not to go to a people in a far away land that they did not know, but to the people in their very backyard.
Jesus tells them in Matthew 10:5-6, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and do not go into any town of the Samaritans; But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” They were not to take anything with them but use what was put right in front of them. And they were not only to be witnesses but to bring the kingdom of God to those who needed it with demonstration of its power.
As Jesus endued them with His power and authority, He instructed them in Matthew 10:7-8, “And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out the demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.”
All Christians are called to be witnesses of Christ by who they are (new creatures in Christ) and their relationship with Him. Jesus says in Matthew 5:19, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”
And while each person is wired uniquely and their witness looks very different from other Christians, followers of Christ do have common characteristics in their witness with each other. Foremost, Christians are called to love God and others.
Jesus spoke in Matthew 22:337-38, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and firt sommandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself."
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me) I gain nothing.”
Another example of characteristics that all Christians have in common is brokenness being the road to coming alive and being a bright witness. Out of their love for God, Christians carry attitudes that make room for God in their lives and call them into His likeness.
Jesus sits down and teaches his disciples in Matthew 5:3-12 the beatitudes. He tells them:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Pastor Dave Johnson writes about the beatitudes, “And what He taught was essentially this: 'Guys, I've got some good news for you. But I've got some bad news for you, too. The good news is this: All of the power you saw Me demonstrate is real -and it's all for you. My kingdom is about authority over sickness and authority over demons. It's about power and glory, and it is absolutely mind-boggling. And guys -I want you to experience all of it. My deepest desire is that you will know genuine joy and fulfillment.
But the bad news is this: My kingdom will not always come the way you think. This kingdom that I have brought will not be for the powerful and the power-hungry. It is not for the self-gratified and self-gratifying. Rather, it is a kingdom and a power that will be realized by those who are weak and dependent and mourning over their sin and hungry for righteousness. And if you've followed Me because you yearn for the power and the glory and all these amazing miracles, you will never know the reality of the kingdom that you seek. Because, you see, in My kingdom, blessed are the broken. It is to the broken that the kingdom belongs, and it will be through the broken ones that the power will flow.” [5]
It sings, "You and I were made to worship, You and I were called to love, you and I are forgiven and free" in the background.
Lord, forgive me where I have tried to be a good witness in my own strength. Forgive me where I at times have thought I needed to have the right things to say, be in the right place and be wired different to be an effective witness.
You bring the kingdom of God anywhere that you send your children out. Help us to be attentive to kingdom opportunities right where we are to reach out to others around us in love. Let us shine brightly in this dark world.
As "Your name to shine for all to see... Glory in the highest" sings in the background, I long for all to see You through shining through all Your children.
1-3. White, Ellen G. Peace Above the Storm. Pacific Press Publishing Association, Nampa, Idaho. 1994.
4. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Mt 1:17
5. Johnson, David with Allen, Tom. Joy Comes in The Mourning …and other blessings in disguise. Christian Publications, Camp Hill, PA. 1998.
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