Chosen Witnesses

May 20

(Acts 10:36-41 NIV) “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. {37} You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- {38} how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. {39} "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, {40} but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”

(Acts 1:8 NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 2:32 NIV) “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”

Peter thought of himself as a chosen witness. He knew the truth about Jesus, and he was called to share it with others. We who believe today also have a witness, and we have the same calling as Peter to share it. You are a chosen witness. Is that how you see yourself? Part of our witness is the truth about Jesus. Every Christian should know the simple gospel and how to share it. It is unchanging and eternal, but is adaptable to any situation or culture. The other part of our witness is what we have seen, and what Jesus has done in our life. We all have a story of some kind. This part of our story grows and changes. It’s different this year than last year. There is someone who needs to hear your story and witness. As we said yesterday, the gospel is for everyone, and so is the story God has given you. You are His chosen witness! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day