The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Privilege and Responsibility"
Part 4 - To Bear Witness
"Every encounter with another human being affords the privilege and responsibility of serving as
lamps of our Lord's light."
While John the Baptist certainly had a unique calling, his purpose was the same as yours and mine.
"He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light, that was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:8-9).
Whence we go, we go with the privileged responsibility to "bear witness of that Light." In countenance, demeanor, attitude, word, and deed, God calls born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to well represent our Savior. We look for the Lord's divinely appointed opportunities to share the Gospel, and pray for one another as the Apostle Paul requested: "Pray… for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel" (Ephesians 6:18; 19).
We need not look, however, for such opportunity to reflect Christ in our character, nature, and way. Every encounter with another human being affords the privilege and responsibility of serving as lamps of our Lord's light. As one suggested long ago, "Share the Gospel with every creature. Use words when necessary." Words are often necessary, words that, as the hymn sings, "tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love." Nevertheless, on many occasions, such opportunity does not present itself, as directed by the Lord's providence and His perfect knowledge of what those we encounter need in the moment. We therefore "share the Gospel" by how we present ourselves, or rather, how we present Him in the aforementioned countenance, demeanor, attitudes, words, and deeds. Just as the glory of His Father shines in the face of the Lord Jesus, so our Lord's glory shines in our faces as we walk with Him in devotion to His honor and will. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (II Corinthians 4:6; I Corinthians 10:31).
Along some glimmering street of Heavenly gold, a fellow glorified saint may approach us. "Thank you for sharing the Gospel with me during our earthly lifetime. I came to know the Lord Jesus not long after our paths crossed." Perhaps we recall the brief moment of encounter. "Oh," we respond, "but I didn't have the time or the opportunity to tell you about the Lord Jesus." The saint will smile. "Oh yes you did. Our Savior come forth in what and how you presented yourself - or rather, Him - to me. In time, a friend told me the old, old story, and I believed. But you had told me the story already in a moment when words were not necessary, but when I needed to see and hear our Lord's lovingkindness and graciousness." Doubtless, we will fall together along that Heavenly street to praise the Lord who so wisely and influentially leads us to minister both Himself and His truth to those we meet along the pathways of this life. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men" (Galatians 6:10).
God sends us to "bear witness of that Light." He grants us marvelous privilege and serious responsibility in the calling. We bow to give thanks for the gift, and then arise to go forth, seeking to share the gift with others. We gratefully "use words when necessary," and just as gratefully, realize we often proclaim the Gospel no less when they are not.
"Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."
(Ephesians 5:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
We love Him because He first loved us.
(I John 4:19)
6900
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