What do you think about when someone says they will testify? Do you think of criminal cases and courtrooms? Are you reminded of a previous experience? Do you think of a witness of an auto accident? Have you thought it can also apply to telling others about Jesus?
There are many ways in which we testify. We are witness to more than we recognize. We see and hear things all day long. Many of them occur while we are working our jobs. Others occur while in a grocery store or within our homes. We do not often think of those times as being witnesses.
John was sent ahead of Jesus to testify to His coming. He was preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. In many ways, John was also preparing the way for our ministry. Though he was the first to testify of Jesus, millions have followed him and continue to testify today. Have you ever thought that you are following in John’s footsteps?
We have a message to deliver. Some of us will plow the fields. Others will plant seeds. Still others will water those seeds. It is through the work of all of us that the kingdom of God grows. As we spread the message of Jesus, one or another of us will hit the right note that will bring someone into the kingdom. We each have our own way and style of communicating the message.
As we spread the message, we are not to be discouraged. If someone else gets someone to commit to Jesus after you talked to that person, celebrate. You were part of it. There will be other times when some will get someone to commit after someone else had talked to the person. It’s not about counting numbers, it’s about all of us working to spread the message.
I pray we all continue to spread the message of Jesus. I pray we plow fields, plant seeds, and water. I pray each one of us work as tirelessly as John did, trusting God to provide the strength we need. Spread the message of Jesus. Plow fields. Plant seeds. Water seeds. Celebrate when someone comes to Christ. Trust God in all things.
John 1:6-8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
Marty Pressey 