by Cindy Buchanan

cbuchanan101063@yahoo.com

I don't generally care to be redundant, but when it comes to God showing up, breaking through and changing lives, how can I not?  How can I not say "THANK YOU JESUS" for saving my life, for healing my body and spirit, and restoring my marriage?  How can I possibly not repeat, over and over, all of the things that God has done in my life?  How He never, ever fails to amaze me with his love, that I did absolutely nothing to deserve, yet that He continues to pour out so freely, only because I believed? Who wouldn't want to continuously boast about the glorious Son of God, without whom I can do nothing, but with whom I can do all things?

God tells us over and over again in His Word, to tell others about Him.  Those of us who are familiar with the Scripture to some degree, have read this repeatedly, yet so many are reluctant to talk to other people, particularly unbelievers, about what our Savior, Jesus Christ, has done in our lives! 

I was recently picking up a new pair of glasses at the local mall, and overheard a couple talking about the delicious dinner they had just finished. With my curiousity piqued, I started to converse with them, and asked where they had eaten.   They were so happy to tell me about the place, the great service they had, the reasonable prices... As a matter of fact, they had no complaints!  And because of their strong recommendation, I'm likely to try this place out sometime soon!  Likewise, had I had a similar experience, I'd certainly tell my friends! Wouldn’t you? Of course! My guess is that you wouldn’t think twice about it!

I have been given a story to tell, too.  Mine isn't about a restaurant, though.  Mine is about the Creator of the Universe!  The Savior of the world!  I will sing His praises all day long! It wasn’t always easy for me to do so, and as I speak with other Christians, from the newly-saved, to the long-term Believer, I have found that many Christians have never once shared a testimony. In inquiring as to why, I have heard many differnet responses:

"Isn't witnessing a job for trained people, like Pastors or something?"
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 tells us "We are Christ's ambassadors...God uses us to speak to you."  Every believer is an 'ambassador' of Christ to a non-believing world. That include you, not just the man that God called to preach from the pulpit on Sundays, or the leader of your Bible Study group.

"But I wouldn't know what to say!  What if people think I'm too pushy?" In the Bible, even those who knew Jesus best sometimes struggled and hesitated to witness.

"...but no one had the courage to speak favorably about him (Jesus) in public."  (John 7: 12-13) But still, they did!  Your anxiety or nervousness is natural.  We all sometimes struggle with the possibility of being rejected or being seen as foolish.  We should expect that unbelievers may reject what we have to say.  But consider this:  what if they wouldn't have rejected you? What if they are open to hearing, are seeking God, and you fail to open your mouth that day?  And may I even go so far as to remind us all that Jesus could return any day now, and what if He does, just as you are walking away from those expectant strangers, and you just made a decision not to do your job? Certainly I’m not suggesting that we have the power to save anyone else, as we could not save ourselves, but when you think hat you might not have witnessed to someone who had ears that would hear, might you not have always regretfully thought, "If only I had told them." 

Maybe you are thinking this: I've witnessed to friends before, but they don't seem interested. I will agree that most of my own friends really don't want to hear another word about my Jesus, and so maybe telling them isn't the answer!  For me, the answer is this:  My actions are, in themselves, a testimony to the world. Good or bad, once you tell people you are a Christian, all eyes are on you, and the world is just waiting for you to make one big mistake!  They are waiting for you to be impolite, unforgiving, hypocritical, and just out and out sinful, so that they can call you on it!  What does this mean to me? It means I had better get out there, and try to live out my life, one moment at a time, in a way that lines straight up with God's Word, that allows for God to use me in any way He sees fit, and in a way that is without reproach, being fully aware that I am still living in a sinful world filled with temptation and evil.  And through it all, pray that the light of Jesus will shine through me. 

My actions are, in themselves, a testimony to the world. If you want to reach the world for Christ, be sure that your actions are not making people think, "I wonder what's wrong with her?"  But instead, let the world look on, maybe scratch their heads, and say, "I don't know what she has, but whatever it is, I WANT IT TOO."

Copyright Cindy Buchanan