Silent Witness

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense [or reason] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” – 1 Peter 3:15

There are some who would say that it is not necessary for a Christian to give voice to their faith.  That right living and right doing is a sufficient witness. And they are important but, in my understanding, they are incomplete, in and of themselves.  There must be a telling.  Jesus lived out that example.  There are those who would say that you don’t need to tell people what God has revealed through His Word by quoting it directly, but instead, you can find ways to reword it so it is not quite so “in your face” to a people bound for hell and eternal separation from their creator.

“…speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” – Ephesians 4:15

And what is the truth? God’s Word is Truth

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” – John 17:17

We are to speak the truth in love and trust that the Spirit of God will do His work in the hearts of those who hear it.  We are to share the Word but not use it as a hammer or sword but more as a shepherd’s staff. We should be motivated by the urgings of the Spirit of God and not merely our own avarice to convert people to our way of believing. God uses us as living testimonies of His grace and mercy through faith in Jesus.  Transformed lives. Jesus is our example. His is the Light of the world but also a rock of offense. I am not the reason that people reject the Truth – it is their sin nature that is the source of that enmity towards God and His Truth.

“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone, and A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.’” – 1 Peter 2:7-8

I was asked if it was not in scripture that we are all created in God’s image – that is recorded in Genesis.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:27

But the Word also says “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10) And “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

We are all God’s creation, but we are not all His children.  But, it is His heart that all would be saved.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

My conversations are seasoned with the Word of God.  I make no apologies for that. And I want to encourage you to remember that you, too, were not saved to be merely a silent witness.

And if you tell me that you just can't memorize scripture, I would ask you what your home address is or what your children's birth dates are. You remember what is important to you.  I will let you draw your own conclusion about how important the Word is in your life. Think about it and then do something about it.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone