A Worthy Witness

The South Steps of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (courtesy of Wikipedia)

---

   One of the things I enjoy watching from time to time are video clips from Witness to War and other sites. These sites feature veterans recounting stories of their experiences in war. Some are tragic, some humorous, and some touching. Each one of the veteran's stories provides not just information but also detail, dimension, and color to events that we may feel are otherwise familiar to us. They allow us to see things in a new and fresh light, and they ensure that the experiences of these men and women will not be forgotten.

   I recently read a blog article from Church Answers entitled, "The Invisible Church: Why Your Community Does Not Know Your Church Exists." In the article, Thom Rainer states, "A church can be present in a community for generations and still not be known. Longevity is not the same as visibility. Just because your building sits on a familiar road does not mean your mission is understood."

   Just before His ascension, Jesus gathered His disciples around Him and told them, in  Acts 1:7-8, "It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Ten days later, the Holy Spirit did indeed come upon the disciples in the Upper Room, and they went out into the city of Jerusalem witnessing to the person and purpose of Christ.  Acts 2:46-47 says, "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

   We have the witness of Scripture regarding who Jesus is and why He came. However, do the people in our communities know from us the testimony about these things? Is the visible church invisible in our communities, or are the people we interact with aware of who we are and who we represent? Let us pray that this week we will have the chance to be a witness to the truth of the gospel and to Christ who is our hope. Let us pray that we would become more visible in our communities because of the faithfulness of our witness to these things.