How Do We Witness

[Vic]

I believe, when we belong to Christ, we witness whether we say anything or not. Our actions, what we are involved in, our family interactions, how we behave when we are in public are all judged and considered by those who know we proclaim Christ.

I was thinking back when I first came to Christ and I witnessed to classmates and it became common to have discussions about God or religious beliefs. I ended up writing papers and assignments always about things about God or serving Christ. Science class became common for the teacher to ask if I was ok with discussing creation again--versus evolution. I was the only one who was a Christian in my class so...

That was in grade 9. In High School, by grade 11, I was still witnessing and writing papers, whether for english or science or whatever about the things of God. What comes to mind is that we just never know if what we say or do is actually impacting anyone. Sometimes it seems like no one is listening so why bother. We can often wonder if we are bearing any fruit because we don't see the effects or impact our lives make on others.

I recall in english class having to write a paper and then we had to give it as a talk at the front of the class. After listening to a few of the guys recount all the intricacies of torture over the centuries I wasn't sure that telling how God was at work in the world was going to be really of interest to anyone. The teacher was a young single woman, and I recall she never took her eyes off me the whole time I spoke. Everyone listened.

Years later, my sister in law, who had attended the same school, ran into that teacher at some Christian event. They started chatting and 'sis' said to her that she didn't know she was a Christian. And this teacher said something to the effect that she wasn't, but there was a student in our old high school that was so clearly a Christian and that because of their witness she came to Christ after leaving that school/city. And she asked my sister in law if she remembered me, and my sister in law told her that she knew me very well as I married her brother. That teachers said I was that student.

I had absolutely no idea she came to Christ and it would have been about a year after I had her as a teacher. I was so surprised because I never talked directly with her about Christ. I just wrote my papers and witnessed to various people when I felt compelled. But God used those things to bring her to Christ. Praise God, because it is so clearly His doing.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

It hit me when my sister in law recounted the incident, that we never know what God is using or will use to bring someone to repentance. We don't know what people see when we live for Christ and where they are at spiritually. We merely need to be about our Lord's business. Serving Him and being obedient to Him.

I think often that it's not about going out and saying I am going to witness to this many today. It's going every day and seeking God's will for us for that day. And if He would have us say something to someone that He would provide the opportunity and words. We just never know where someone else is at. But God knows. It is so very clear it is about dependence on Christ and allowing Him to live through us and direct our steps so we can be used for His honor and His glory.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.