Witness

by

Ephesians 1:18 Really Know The Hope

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, Ephesians 1:18

Having an inheritance is something that many people have, but don’t always realize what they will be getting. They may know a part of what they will be getting, but often they do not know everything. Some of the information is kept back, until the time the inheritance is handed out.

Sometimes, when a person fully knows what his inheritance is, he will be very excited and anxious to receive it.

Paul prays that the Ephesians will have their eyes opened up to really know the hope that they have and how great the inheritance really is.

Every believer knows that he will be receiving eternal life as a follower of Jesus. While that is great, it is only a small part of what he really is getting.

Prior to stepping into eternal life, the believer will also be receiving all of God’s great power to do whatever needs to be done. He gets God’s authority to trample upon the enemy and turn from all sin.

Not every believer realizes what he is getting. They continue to live in fear and weakness, rather than strength and boldness.

Once one fully realizes the power God is giving him, there is nothing that can hold the believer back in being His witness. Knowing the hope of power and salvation removes all fear of man and instills a boldness to be a true witness to all one meets.

Having this hope and power is something that not just a few believers can have, but every believer possesses. It is an inheritance that goes beyond anything one could ever desire to possess.

Take a moment to realize that Jesus gave you all His authority upon this earth. He has given you a hope that you will live, even if you die. He has given you His strength to accomplish anything He gives you to do.

These are things that can only be seen and realized with spiritual eyes. It cannot always be seen in the physical realm, but by trust and hope.

Allow God to open your eyes to see what you have in Jesus. Then live your life in the eternal hope and power that you have received and are receiving.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know the hope you have in Jesus; that you will know the power and authority you have in Jesus; that you will be all that God has called you to be; and that you will live in the power and authority of Jesus.

by

Galatians 2:12 Changing To Please

For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. Galatians 2:12

Appearance plays an important part of the lives of many people. People will say and do things to appear to agree with those around them, even if it goes against their own personal beliefs.

This double-standard of living is being done to prevent losing of friends or acceptance. They want to please certain people, at all costs.

Paul talks of a man who had been willing to eat with uncircumcised believers until some circumcised believers came around. Then they changed their attitude towards the uncircumcised.

Many believers will claim and believe certain things while they are in church and among like believers. As soon as someone comes along of a different view, they will drop what they believe and act the new way. Instead of loving everyone and remaining the same, they change.

This type of double-standard is often seen in members of churches and it pushes many people away from the church. It is seen as hypocrisy. Jesus loved everyone, but never changed Himself to their level of living. He was holy and perfect, regardless of what others said or did.

Every believer must live their life as Jesus lived His life. They must be the same, regardless of whom they are around. Changes should never be made to just fit in and please some.

There will always be some people who will not agree with a way of living. When a person continues to change to be accepted, he will no longer live by any standard. He will neither be hot or cold towards God, and will be spit out by God.

As a believer, you will have times that there will be some who believe or act differently than you. Do not allow yourself to be persuaded to keep changing how you live for God.

Know what God has shown you in His scriptures and live that way. Do not become hypocritical and change your ways just to please others.

Live your life for God, not for man. Let God’s light shine in and through you to a dark world. Be among the world, but not of the world and its corrupt ways.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know how God wants you to live; that you will live for God among all people; that you will not change your ways just to please people; and that you will be witness of who Jesus is.

by

2 Corinthians 3:12 A Reason To Be Bold

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12

For most people, being bold does not come easy. They may be bold in word and thought, but when it comes to action, most people often back down in the face of challenging their beliefs.

Being strong and bold is great in theory, when everything is going well and from a distance. Getting up close and into danger, requires a new level of boldness, that most do not have. It will often cause one to question himself and his abilities.

After talking about how the new covenant, in Christ, is much greater than the Mosaic covenant, Paul talks about being bold. He has such a great hope in Christ that he is very bold.

The more that a person is positive that he knows the truth, the more bold he can be in presenting that truth. This is especially true when it goes against the flow of common thought and action.

In most things in life, there is often a tiny shred of doubt left as to whether the thought or action is absolutely the best. The world often tries to say that there are no absolutes.

The believer who knows God’s word and believes completely in it, will have no doubts as to its value. He will have no doubts about the covenant Jesus has made in bringing about salvation.

As he is willing to fully believe in what Jesus did, he has a hope that is beyond anything this world can provide. This can give him a boldness to be a witness for Jesus in the face of persecution and death. He is willing to stand up strong for the gospel message and preach it everywhere he goes, because he knows that he knows it is true. It is an eternal hope.

You may fear being a witness for Jesus. You may question yourself and your belief causing you to back down. Look into the Scriptures and know what Jesus did for you and why He did it. Look at the boldness He had and take on that same boldness.

Know that you know that the gospel message is the greatest message any person may ever know. Now be bold and preach that gospel message, because of the eternal hope that you have in Jesus Christ. Pass it on to others who need it with no fear.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know the hope you have in Jesus; that you will have the boldness of Jesus in being His witness; and that you will boldly proclaim the gospel message of Jesus to all the world.

by

2 Corinthians 2:16 The Aroma Of Death And Life

To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 2 Corinthians 2:16

Most everything gives off some type of aroma. Some of these aromas can be very pleasant smelling, such as with a bouquet of flowers, fresh rain, or a fresh baked pie. Others aromas can be extremely unpleasant, such as the smell of a skunk’s spray, limburger cheese, or decaying food.

The different types of aromas can attract people closer, or push people away. People often use many types of deodorants to change or cover up the aroma around them.

Describing the believers, Paul says that they are an aroma of death to some and aroma of life to others.

Every believer has the aroma of Christ emanating from them as they go through their days. Those who are rejecting Christ or God, will find that the smell of a believer is revolting. It appears as though the believer is bringing about death.

The aroma of Christ is one that does reveal and bring about death. It reveals that one who is living in sin, is dying or already dead. It brings about a conviction of the heart.

One the other side of the picture, the aroma of Christ is one of life. Those who have chosen to believe in Jesus, repent of their sins and follow Him, smell Him as the aroma of life. At the same time, Jesus brings the aroma of death–death to sin and self. This is a very pleasing aroma to the believer.

Every believer will carry those aromas around with them wherever he goes. To some, the believer will be revolting and a smell of death. He will go against the evil ways of this world. To others, he will be a life giving aroma, following the ways of God.

Each day you walk about, you give off some type of aroma. Depending upon how you are living your life will depend upon the aroma given. Living in sin will always bring the aroma of putrid death and decay. Living for God will always be one of life.

Not every person you meet will enjoy the aroma you bring as a believer in Jesus. They will hate it and run from you. However, others will smell the aroma of life and be attracted.

Allow yourself to be the aroma of Christ, being the life to a believer and death to the world.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will bring the gospel message of Jesus to this world; that you will bring true life to those who are dead; and that you will be the aroma of Jesus to the lost and saved.

by

1 Corinthians 4:2 Faithfulness Is A requirement

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

Parents of children often have a trust fund set up to provide for the children in case of their death. The person who is given control of the trust fund are expected to be faithful with its distribution. It is not just given to anyone for their own personal gain or use.

While many should be able to be trusted with a trust fund, many will fail in being faithful with it. Many would improperly use it for their own use, rather than for what it was intended.

Paul revealed that every believer was entrusted with the mysteries of God. Now he tells the people that anyone given that trust must prove himself faithful.

The mysteries of God are that God loves everyone and has provided a way for everyone to be saved. Being saved is gaining eternal life, something that is greater than anything else a person can have or desire.

However, the mystery given to a person is not for his own personal use alone. It is to be shared and used for the benefit of others.

Many believers receive the mysteries of God, but keep it to themselves. They do not go out and be His witness, sharing what has been given to them. Nor do they live for God in every area of their lives. They trample upon their salvation by continuing to live in sin.

Those who continue to purposefully live in sin do not prove themselves faithful in how they handle what God has given them. They are proving themselves unfaithful with what has been entrusted to them, using it only for personal gain.

Every believer must realize that they are saved to worship God and to be His witness to others. They must share and distribute what has been given to them.

Ask yourself what you are doing with what God has given you. Are you hoarding it to yourself or are you sharing it with others? Jesus did not keep what He had to Himself, but proved Himself faithful unto God.

Do not let yourself be proven unfaithful, but faithful. Allow God to use you to build His kingdom. Allow God to build you up in Christ Jesus.

Can you be proven a faithful servant with the trust He has given you?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know what God has entrusted to you; that you will share what God has given you; and that God will see you as a trusted, faithful servant.