Near the entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with this inscription
JAMES BUTLER BONHAM
No picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by his family so that people may know something of the appearance of the man who died for their freedom.
There is no literal portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ either.
HE gave His life so that ALL people CAN be free.
Now the world looks at those who bear His Name –
those who claim to be His followers –
expecting to find a resemblance.
After all, if He lives in His people, surely there SHOULD be a likeness?
When people look at us, what sort of likeness do they see?
Can they catch a glimpse of Jesus?
Can they see a little of His character, His love, His nature?
Are they ATTRACTED to Jesus by what they see in us?
They should be!
Every Christian IS a witness.
The question is – am I a GOOD witness or a BAD witness?
The old poem by Annie Johnson Flint still holds true:
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s Gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed.
We are the Lord’s last message,
Given in deed and word.
WHAT IF THE TYPE IS CROOKED?
WHAT IF THE PRINT IS BLURRED?
Acts 1:8
You SHALL be witnesses unto Me
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works
and GLORIFY YOUR FATHER
John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto Me
# Am I a stepping-stone or a stumbling block to faith in Christ?
# Does a non-believer look at my life and want what I have?
To be a witness implies that we have personally experienced the event of which we are speaking. When we tell others about Christ through our actions and words we are simply living the changed life that we have already been given. We are simply revealing to others what Christ has already done in us! Lord bless.
So true Rob, when people look at us, they should see Christ, but sadly, many professing Christians do not present this to the world.
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So let our lights so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
When all Christians become disciples, allowing the LORD to reign supreme in their lives, the light they have within WILL shine forth and Christ in them will draw men unto Himself. May we all be true ambassadors for Christ.
I have thought these things many times so thank you for the reminder. Definitely convicting.
I was convicted. We all need to be convicted to the point where we will yield to the Lordship of Christ, and allow HIM to shine forth in all His glory.