TUESDAY November 21, 2023
A Courageous Testimony
Then he said: “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.”
Acts 22:2-5
Paul started his testimony by connecting himself with his Jewish brethren. He had sat under the teaching of Gamaliel––a well-known teacher of the Law. Every Jew knew him. The Law brought them to legalism––strictness and bondage. Paul’s audience knew nothing of redemption and justification or about the grace of God. He knew he needed to use the sword––the Word of God––to help bring them to conviction, to Christ.
Paul continued, “I used to be just like you––a zealot.” They had known him by his original name, Saul. The entire Sanhedrin was acquainted with him! He was like their bounty hunter––the persecutor of the Way! He hated the Church. He arrested Christians and put them in prison so they could be killed. In his zealousness, Saul thought he was right in what he was doing––but he was wrong. Changed by the Gospel, Paul gave the Jews a very convincing and courageous testimony.
We cannot be quiet as Christians––like Nicodemus––in John 3. We must be able to courageously share our testimony with others. Do not be afraid. Redeem the time and take every opportunity to share Jesus with others. Think about it. Once a person dies, that is it. Without Christ, they are eternally lost. That is the honest truth!
You do not have to force your Christian views on people. The Holy Spirit opens the doors. He will do a tremendous work in their hearts.
When we preach Christ crucified, we have no reason to stammer, or stutter, or hesitate, or apologize; there is nothing in the gospel of which we have any cause to be ashamed.
~Charles Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
