“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to
give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15. That’s what witnessing is – sharing our
faith, hope and love with others. Wordkeeping equips us to be able to give a
reason for our faith, in a way that is not offensive, but that will glorify
God.
When we allow our lives to be shaped by the Word of God we possess
an earnestness and dignity that will inspire those who observe us. Our
stability and sincerity that we receive from faithful Wordkeeping will be a
like a light shining in the darkness. Our influence will be elevating. Many who
have never opened the Bible will be drawn to God through the lives of His
faithful followers.
The Word of God, faithfully applied to our lives, furnishes us
with interpersonal skills that God can use to win souls for His kingdom. Our
language will become refined, our conversation pure. People will sense that we
have a wisdom not of this world. Our lives will testify that we have been with
Jesus.
Before we make an effort to speak for Jesus, we must make sure He
is in our hearts. Filling our minds with scripture will give us a sense of
preparedness, saving us from the awkwardness of ignorance. That doesn’t mean
that we must memorize hundreds of scriptures before we can witness, but we must
be exposing our minds to the Word, familiarizing ourselves with it at every
opportunity.
Our lack of diligence in Bible study will only make any efforts to witness embarrassing and uncomfortable for us. The Holy Spirit can teach us, in 1 hour, enough to go and share what we have learned. But if you don’t take that time, don’t expect to have anything to share. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5,6
If you are faithfully Wordkeeping, it won’t be difficult to share
the spiritual blessings you are receiving. It will be impossible to keep them
in! Witnessing comes naturally to Wordkeepers.
The psalmist sets forth the invitation, “Come and hear, all ye
that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” Ps 66:16. The
testimony of our personal experience is the most powerful witnessing tool
available.
Witnessing is
also referred to as sharing our faith. Where do we get our faith? From the
Word. So we are sharing the wisdom that comes from the Word with others. Talk
about being qualified: notice what the psalmist says about the wisdom the Word
gives us: “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies
are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy
precepts. Ps 119:99, 100
Many study the Bible only to be able to win theological arguments. They may discover doctrinal truth, but if they don’t receive it into their hearts, it only makes them miserable to be around. If the Bible student does not obey the Word, he is not Wordkeeping. He may even memorize the entire Bible, but so did the Pharisees and Sadducees. Remember what they did to the Living Word! We must be not only hearers, but doers of the Word. Then our lives will truly be a witness for our wonderful Savior.
“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and
do exploits.” Daniel 8:32 Are you willing to do life-risking exploits to share
the Word of God with others? Would you be willing to die for the truth? We
wouldn’t die for something that we didn’t love and appreciate. Wordkeeping will
give us a zeal for the glory of God that will make us willing to give our very
lives to uphold His Word. We must know the truth, so we will be willing to stand firm for
truth.
The Word inspires us with the holy boldness of men and women of God who have been willing to lay down their lives for Him. We will find courage in the stories of great faith. Holy men will become our heroes.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and
ever. Daniel 12:1
Here are your ten texts for today.
|
1
Jo 1:9 |
Iwcos, hifajtfuos,
atcufau. |
1
John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. |
|
1
Jo 3:4 |
Wcstatl: fsittotl. |
1
John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law. |
|
1
Jo 4:7 |
B, luloa: flioG; aeotliboG, akG. |
1
John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one
that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. |
|
1
Jo 4:8 |
HtlnknG; fGil. |
1
John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. |
|
1
Jo 4:19 |
Wlh, bhflu. |
1
John 4:19 We love him,
because he first loved us. |
|
Jud
24 |
NuHtiatkyff, atpyfbtpohgwej. |
Jude
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, |
|
Rev
3:20 |
B, Isatd, ak: iamhmv, aotd, Iwcith, awswh, ahwm. |
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me. |
|
Rev
14:12 |
Hitpots: hattktcoG, atfoJ. |
Revelation 14:12 Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of
God, and the faith of Jesus. |
|
Rev
21:7 |
Htosiat; aIwbhG, ahsbms. |
Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall
inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. |
|
Rev
22:14 |
BattdHc, ttmhrtttol, ameittgitc. |
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that
do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city. |
In His Love,
Linda Kirk
(805) 239-1120