"WITNESSING FOR THE LORD!"

There is an old saying: "Think before you speak!" If we were to apply this to our daily lives, it would save us from saying many unkind, bitter, and harmful words.

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with a grain of salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6 (KJV)

We season food with salt to make it taste better. We need to learn to season the things we say with salt of love, kindness, and helpfulness. How do we speak to others about their soul; their need for the
Savior from sin, or about their church attendance? Do we argue? Do we raise our voices? That is what Paul warns against. Harsh words stir up anger. Instead, we need to cultivate a pleasant way of speaking and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us season our answers and remarks with love, kindness, understanding, and concern.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Philippeans 2:13-15 (KJV)

Christians fail more often than they succeed in being lights in this world because they are still human beings. No matter how often we fail to shine or how frequently we displease our Lord with our words
and deeds, the assignment itself does not change. Believers are lights in this world! Remember, God did not choose us because of our ability or strength, but only out of His love for us. The times we do
shine as lights will be achieved by His grace and will serve as an expression of thanks.

"Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high." Job 16:19 (KJV)

"Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." Isaiah 55:4 (KJV)

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." Revelation 3:21 (KJV)

Jesus tells the church of Ladicea that He would prefer for it to be either hot or cold. Then he could at least tell where it stands. Unfortunately, the church was neither; it was lukewarm toward the claims of Christ and His promises to it. Even so, in His love, the Lord promised to those who repented and were willing to confess Him unashamedly, the right to sit on His throne.

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is he witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." 1John 5:9

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 1:8 (KJV)

Christians must be ever more diligent and determined in proclaiming Jesus Christ and His cross. Jesus said, "ye SHALL be witnesses unto me." He did not say, "You ought to be" or "You should be". Each Christian, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is equipped and committed to share the love of Jesus with others; at home, in the neighborhood, in the workplace, and across the world!

"WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1

All of us need encouragement in the daily race of our Christian life. That's why God puts us with other people. We can cheer one another on! Our congregations are support groups ~ in them we do bear one another's burdens. We tolerate stress and pressures better when we know we can cast our burdens and receive support through our Brother's and Sister's in Christ.

Application: There is no way for the church YESTERDAY to become the church TOMORROW but through us who are the church TODAY! May the Holy Spirit use us to share the Gospel message with those who are new to the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help us to clear the way for things that would keep our friends, family, neighbors, and strangers from coming to Jesus. There are so many out there Lord, who don't know you as their personal Savior. May Your Spirit help us to be ready to speak to them the words that share the  message of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Lord, help us determine that nothing will stop us from bringing people of all nations, to Jesus ~ and Jesus to them. In His Precious Name we pray, Amen.