Sonkist Ministries

The words on the front screen at church were reiterated in our pastor’s message a few minutes later. What intrigued me most was the expression “witnesses.” Who were these people? Why had they chosen to be present when Paul preached? And what prompted the Apostle Paul to even use this term in his letter to Timothy in the first place?

According to scholars, the witnesses were men, women, and children who had gathered throughout Paul’s ministry to discover for themselves what this man had to say. Whether they had believed Jesus was Messiah and accepted God’s free gift of salvation wasn’t Paul’s point. He had shared the Word, and people had been present – watching, listening, and, for some, taking action based on the Gospel message.

Witness is an interesting word. It infers the ability to provide a testimony based on some experience or observation. While it often relates to legal or official proceedings, it also is connected to faith – but not just any faith. In fact, one of Microsoft’s dictionary definitions is “somebody who publically states his or her strong Christian beliefs.” So the assembly mentioned in the Scripture above would have included those who had been onlookers as the apostle shared about Jesus, and some of them would certainly became true witnesses for their Lord and Savior after they believed.

There are many places in God’s Word that talk about this topic, and one of the most famous is that “great cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith . . . (verses 1-2a).

So this group not only includes earthly observers but also those standard bearers of our faith who have gone before us (as mentioned in Hebrews 11). Basically God gently reminds us that we’ve got a bigger audience than we ever imagined! Those faithful onlookers – including Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and David – surround us! Along with mere mortals in our world, these heroes in the Lord’s kingdom are also our witnesses – watching and waiting to see what we will do with our lives.

I don’t know about you, but this concept alone urges me to strive harder as I serve my Savior! Champions of our faith are cheering us on – like a crowd gathered to witness an event here on earth might do! And, just like the Apostle Paul encouraged, we need to be passing on to others who we truly are and what we really believe. Each and every day people should be able to observe our commitment to Christ – for this is the best testimony we can offer.

Oh may our witness grow stronger and stronger in the days ahead! Let’s remain firm in our faith, fervently serving our Savior as we finish the race He already has planned – with His grace and for His glory!

Thought of the Week

You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

Isaiah 43:10

 

March often seems like an idle month . . . a bit of a boring season tucked between the end of football and the start of baseball. Sometimes Easter arrives early, but otherwise we’ve only Saint Patrick’s Day to celebrate – that holiday when even non-Irish men and women wear green garb and eat corned beef and cabbage

Who was that fellow Patrick, anyway? Like another famous figure, Saint Nicholas, Patrick was also a real person – and he lived 385-461 A.D. He belonged to a Christian family of Roman citizenship in Britain, but he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and shipped to Ireland as a slave. After six years of hard labor, Patrick had a dream that urged him to return to Britain – so he escaped, but ended up in Gaul.

After wandering for some time, the young man eventually ended up in a monastery to study God’s Word. He then received another somewhat shocking vision – God wanted Him to return to Ireland! His love for the Lord led him back to the very people who had enslaved him . . . and Patrick’s desire was to help the Irish find freedom in Christ. In fact, one of his first acts was to defy pagan priests by putting out a fire they had set for the false gods worshipped in those days.

In his book, Confessions, Saint Patrick summed up his mission this way:

“I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure the taunts of unbelievers, putting up with reproaches about my earthly pilgrimage, suffering many persecutions, even bondage, and losing my birthright of freedom for the benefit of others . . . If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life, without hesitation and most willingly, for Christ’s name. I want to spend myself for that country, even in death, if the Lord should grant me this favor.”

Patrick’s dedication to those who had hurt him is amazing, and it was only with Christ’s transformational power that he was able to not only forgive them but also want to fight for their salvation. This is what God’s grace can do in us. It can change our hearts and help us show compassion to others who desperately need to know the love of the Lord!

Another lesson we can learn from Patrick is that we don’t have to go on a special pilgrimage to become saints. The word saint literally means “holy one” . . . someone who is set apart for the Lord. God actually begins this transformation from sinner to saint when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Here are a few verses to remind us of who we are in God’s sight:

” So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”

Ephesians 2:19

“. . . to the church of God, which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified to Christ Jesus, saints by calling . . .”

I Corinthians 1:2

So, dear Saints, may you find meaning this month in the special calling you have from the Lord. Look for ways you can reach out into your world to share about the Savior. Walk closely with Christ so that nothing gets you off track from doing God’s will. And pray for wisdom and strength as you continue this journey, living up to your status of saint no matter where life takes you.

Thought of the Month

As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.

Psalm 16:3