”You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1: 8
The Holy Spirit again. One begins to realize how central the Spirit is to what we are about.
In these last words before his ascension, the risen Jesus tells them (and us): “You will be witnesses to me even to the ends of the earth.”
Thus we are to be, not only faithful followers, but witnesses. This is one of Luke’s main themes “witness” is used 20 times in Acts). This book will end with Paul, a prisoner in Rome, ”bearing witness to the kingdom of God.”
How do I witness? Street-corner preaching? Unlikely. I witness by whatever “shines” through my life all day long. It can be faith, hope and love. Or it can be skepticism, pessimism and apathy.
It’s something like daytime running lights on a car – they’re always “on”. My light shines before others whether I like it or not. I can’t turn it off. My only choice is what kind of light shall shine.
Shall I smile…or look blank?
Shall I be kind…or neutral?
Shall I be forgiving…or make them pay for what they did?
Shall I heal…or just watch?
Shall I speak constructively…or negatively?
”You will be my witnesses.”
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