Tell the Story 为主作见证

[Dexu Xia]

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  1 John 1:3

comment

Robert Todd Lincoln, son of US president Abraham Lincoln, was present for three major events—the death of his own father as well as the assassinations of presidents James Garfield and William McKinley.

But consider that the apostle John was present at four of history’s most crucial events: the last supper of Jesus, Christ’s agony in Gethsemane, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. John knew that bearing witness to these events was the ultimate why behind his presence in these moments. In John 21:24, he wrote, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.”

John reaffirmed this in his letter of 1 John. He wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim” (1:1). John felt a compelling duty to share his eyewitness account of Jesus. Why? “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,” he said, “so that you also may have fellowship with us” (v. 3).

The events of our lives may be surprising or mundane, but in either case God is orchestrating them so we can bear witness to Him. As we rest in the grace and wisdom of Christ, may we speak for Him in even life’s surprising moments.

By:  Bill Crowder

What are some of the more surprising aspects of your faith story? How will you share your story with someone who needs to hear of God’s love?

Jesus, please help me be sensitive to those times when I can share with others how much You love us.

我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。—约翰一书1章3节

美国林肯总统的儿子罗伯特·托德·林肯见证了三起重大事件，在他父亲被暗杀，以及詹姆斯总统和威廉·麦金莱总统遇刺时，他都身在现场。

但使徒约翰却是见证了历史上四起最关键的事件，包括与耶稣共进最后的晚餐、基督在客西马尼园的忧伤祷告，以及祂的受难与复活。约翰知道，这些事情发生时他都在现场的最终原因，是要让他为此作见证。约翰福音21章24节记载：“为这些事作见证，并且记载这些事的就是这门徒。我们也知道他的见证是真的。”

约翰在他的书信中重申了这一点。他写道﹕“论到从起初原有的生命之道，就是我们所听见、所看见、亲眼看过、亲手摸过的”（约翰一书1章1节）。约翰觉得自己有不可推诿的责任，必须与人分享他亲眼见到耶稣的一言一行。为什么呢？他说﹕“我们把所看见所听见的向你们宣扬，使你们也可以和我们彼此相通。”（3节，新译本）

发生在我们生活中的事，可能是令人惊讶的，也可能是平凡无奇的，但无论哪种情况，都是上帝的悉心安排，使我们可以为祂作见证。当我们倚靠基督的恩典和智慧生活时，愿我们在生命的惊涛骇浪中仍能为祂作见证。

作者：  柯贝尔

在你的信仰历程中，有哪些令人惊讶的事情？
你会如何与人分享你的故事，让他们认识上帝的爱？

主耶稣，求祢赐给我一颗敏锐的心，能够把握机会，随时与他人分享祢对我们的爱