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Should you be witnessing your belief in Jesus Christ to your friends, neighbors, fellow employees, to people passing by you on street, etc.?

The way you live your life becomes your witness regardless of whether others around you know about the details. They are influenced by only a few things:

-How you treat them.
-How they see you live.

Let your life be your witness…if or until they ask to know more. And then, only a little at a time.

They are potential babies in Christ. If they respond in a positive willingness to know more, they can digest only milk for a while if they begin to grow up into Christ. Don’t give them too much, or expect too much at first.

Remember, they are probably less interested in your church, and more interested in you. It is best not to “preach church” to them. They may or may not be influenced by the church you attend (if you do…), but more interested in you, and what YOU believe, and why and how. If they ask about attending a church, then advise them, and address any concerns they may ask about. If you have not been called to preach, be very careful about giving them the impression that you are preaching to them.

At this point they may be interested in how you came to believe in Jesus Christ. It depends on how well you know them. Are you sure you really know them? - really know them? Do you feel that you REALY know their mind and heart well enough to speak only that which will be received in a positive way? You need to remember that you have only “secondhand” information, regardless of how well you may feel you know them. Only God knows their heart.

And just as important, and perhaps more important, when you speak to them from the position as a Christian witness, will they feel that they are hearing the real you, or will they suddenly feel they do not really know you, and that you are speaking to them in this way out of a religious obligation. This goes back to what they have heard, seen, and felt concerning you and others in the past.

And most important: remember that only God knows their heart. And also, only Jesus Christ knows your heart. So it is imperative that you become a stepping stone - not a stumbling block.

There is promise of a blessing, and also a dire warning from Jesus concerning those who are just beginning to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior:

“For I tell you truly, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to and bear the name of Christ will by no means fail to get his reward. And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” - Mark 9:41-42

We all must give an accounting before Jesus Christ of our deeds - but also for our words. Prayerfully consider if and how you should witness. The very first requirement, if you feel led by Christ to witness to someone, is to show them that you love them - whether they believe you do or not.

The love of God manifested in you will eventually speak volumes. Perhaps you can be used to save someone from eternal death.

…even without words.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea...and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." - Revelation 21:1,4

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)