Play Eight: Living As A Witness For Christ
12.13.15
In Mark chapter 5 we read a story of a man who is demon possessed. This man lived among the dead and wiled and moaned all hours of the day and night. He was in misery, alone, isolated, and dejected. Then Jesus came into his life and things changed. He was restored, reborn, and returned to his sanity. This man naturally wants to follow Jesus, but Jesus tells him to stay and share what God has done for him. Jesus is essentially asking him to be a living witness of what the Lord has done in his life.
Four things I believe we can learn from this story:
1. Tell Who You Were
The man in the graveyard's actions were described as "night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones." The people of the town knew who he was an how he acted. Perhaps your story is less dramatic. Maybe you were like me and you started attending church at birth. You grew up in a stable home and for the most part did what was right. Or maybe your story is one of reckless abandon, isolation and broken relationships. Either way, we should be prepared to tell our story honestly and sincerely. "All have fallen short of the glory of God" according to Romans 3:23, so we all have a story of life in sin to tell.
2. Tell What Jesus Did In Your Life
In Mark 5:15 we read that when the people from the city came to see what had happened, they found the demon possessed man sitting there dressed and in his right mind. In your story about the journey you have had with Jesus there will have been times when you needed him. Perhaps it was courage or hope or strength, it does not matter what it was that Jesus did for you - tell about it! If you find that there is nothing you can find to tell I suggest one of two situations: One, you do not have a relationship with Jesus and therefor have no story to tell because yours has not started yet. Or two, you need to pray to have eyes to see what He has done for you. Once you have your story, tell it, write, and perfect it. It is your testimony.
3. Share As Jesus Leads
Jesus was on a mission. He was telling people far and wide about the coming Kingdom of God. He had thousands who followed him. He had a core twelve that he mentored.So why not one more? Yet when this man who had been radically saved asked to tag along, Jesus told him to stay. "Go home to your people" Jesus told him. The man followed the directions of Christ and went to his home town and began to tell what Jesus had done. If you were like me, when I was younger I was certain that if I told Jesus I would tell others about him it would have to be in a far off country. Sometimes that is true. But often what I see is a commitment for Jesus to start right where you are. Your family, friends, neighbors are all in need of Jesus too, follow Him and tell where he leads.
4. Be Ready To Be Amazed
This ambassador for Jesus, this living witness, followed the lead of Christ and told his home town people about what the Lord had done. The result? Verse 20 in Mark 5 tells us that "all the people were amazed."
What about you? Have you met Jesus? Has he changed your life? If so, great! Go and tell! Be a living witness! If not, consider watching the video below as it explains how you can begin your story now.
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