John 15
ScriptureJohn 15:27And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.Observation - What does it say?Jesus is having his last conversation with his disciples before he will be arrested and taken from them. In this conversation he goes back and forth between comforting and teaching them. He says in these couple verses that he will send the Holy Spirit from the Father to them and the Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus. And, Jesus says to his disciples that they must testify as well.Understanding - What does it mean?Jesus expects those who have been with him to share about him with others.
2 Corinthians 5:1718 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
The apostle Paul pointed out to the Corinthian Christians that after God reconciled us to himself, God gave us this message of reconciliation. He says we are Christ’s ambassadors, not I am Christ's ambassador. Testifying about Christ is not the obligation of a select few super-Christians, but of every believer. And we're never sharing alone. We have the Holy Spirit who we're partnering with!
The majority of our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and families are filled with people who don’t know Christ. And as Christians, we must testify by simply sharing the good news of salvation with them and how we have experienced him in our lives. Souls are on the line!
Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” The primary role for every Christian is a fisherman. Jesus' desire is to make us all into fishermen. The primary purpose for which we are on this earth is to catch lost souls and bring them into the kingdom. Are we living on purpose?Life ApplicationTestify! Not only is it an amazing privilege to be used by God to save others, but it is a great responsibility.
God, please forgive us for neglecting our responsibility to share about you with others. And bless us to be a soul winning church! Fill us with courage and grant us opportunities to share with others about you today and this weekend. And please prepare the hearts of those we will share with. Fill them with a hunger for you and an openness to the gospel. Amen.
- Levi Thompson
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