Witnessing: Just sharing Hope

Witnessing doesn’t have to be earth shattering or dramatic. It can be as simple as how you conduct yourself on a day to day basis. You walk like a Christian. You talk like a Christian. You act like a Christian. You have the love of Christ in your life. Jesus is your Savior and you don’t mind if the rest of the world knows it. But witnessing doesn’t have to accompanied by fireworks or clanging cymbals. Let me share a story with you to illustrate.

An elderly pastor was strolling through a city park during on a lunch break of a pastor’s conference, looking for a bench to sit and eat his sandwich while reflecting on the morning’s meetings when he came upon a young mother sobbing over her child in a stroller. The elderly pastor, having years of experience in counseling those who were hurting, forgot about his lunch and approached the young mother to attempt to console her. He leaned over the young mother and in a deep, gravelly voice strong despite his years asked, “M’am, are you alright?”

The young mother looked up into the pastors eyes with tears streaming down her face and merely said, “Just look at him.”

The pastor glanced beyond the mother’s distraught countenance to her baby in the stroller and saw, according to the child’s facial features, that the baby had been born with Down’s Syndrome. The pastor knew from his many years of experience as God’s servant that Down’s Syndrome was a genetic disorder that produced the lasting effects of mental retardation. He also knew that some cases greatly affected the functioning of the individual while the functioning of others was less affected.

“Is there anything wrong with him?” the pastor asked as softly and compassionately as his voice would allow.

“He has Down’s Syndrome.” The mother sobbed. “How will he ever have a life? How will my husband and I have a life? How will we be able to care for him?”

The old pastor slowly bent down onto one knee and looking at the young mother said, “M’am, forgive me for saying so, but I believe that your priorities are out of order.”

The young mother looked at him quizzically.

“You see,” the pastor continued, “The Holy Bible says that your child was woven by God’s hand in the womb and that all his ordained days are written in God’s book even before your child saw the first light of day. The Bible also says that your child was not made in this fashion as a punishment or to be a burden but rather that the great works of God may be displayed through him.”

“How can that be?” the mother asked, beginning to calm her emotions.

“Romans 11:33 tells us that God’s wisdom is unsearchable and His judgment is unfathomable. No one truly knows why.” The elderly pastor paused a moment as a tear ran down his cheek. “But I believe that God gives His specially wrapped gifts to truly special people because He has a greater purpose for their lives if they are willing to accept salvation in Jesus Christ and to learn of His ways through His Word and discipleship in His church.”

“Do you really mean that?” the young mother asked.

The pastor stood and looked down upon the young mother and said, “Indeed, I do. I believe it with every fiber of my being.” He then took the leather bound Bible from underneath his arm that had been given to him to commemorate sixty years of service to God and gave it to the young mother. “All the answers and the strength that you seek are in this book. You take care now. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.” And with that, he turned and strolled away before the young mother could object, leaving her with God’s Word in hand and a sandwich for her lunch.

Now friends, THAT’S witnessing! Whew! It really is that simple.

God Bless! Witness to someone today!

In His Grip,

Lonnie Richardson

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Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

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New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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