You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts one eight imagine what could happen if all the members of your church, every one of them, believed that they were witnesses sent by God to reveal God to the world by both word and deed. Many believe that others are better equipped to be witnesses of Christ than they are themselves. Even Moses felt inadequate to speak on God's behalf, and he pleaded with God to send someone else. We should cut Moses a little slack, though, because he had never heard anyone say, the Lord doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called the Bible tells us that we're to be witnesses of Christ. We are called by grace to stand and to give witness both to the Lord and for him. We are to give witness to him that we are his people, created in his image, doing his will, and we are to give witness for him that he exists, that he created the world, and that he is both ruler and redeemer of all mankind. We must take that task seriously. To brush it aside is really nothing less than running away from our responsibility, which is a very dangerous thing to do. Just ask Jonah. If we underestimate the power and impact of our witness, we diminish our usefulness to the Lord and to his church. Can you imagine the negative impact on past history had christians been so reluctant to be witnesses for christians? Don't you suppose that the negative impact on the future will be just as great if we refuse our responsibility to be witnesses of Christ? Yet even though that's true, it amazes me that so many people simply refuse to make themselves available to be God's witnesses and therefore make no effort whatsoever to be prepared to do so. You will be my witnesses. That is a command. Let's not turn it into a question.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Communities Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com. Have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.