Romans
12:9-21
Practical Application
Practically speaking, you must do something to be a witness, correct? We’ve identified a few things you can do in previous days and the marks of a true Christian highlighted in Romans 12 provides further insight. If you want to be an authentic witness for Christ in today’s world, keep the following in mind.
Start with serving
I once spent a summer surrounded by more than 100 young people from around the world and I was one of two Christians among Muslims, Mormons, and Atheists. When I made the journey that early May I was deathly afraid that I wouldn’t be able to relate to anyone because I was coming from my Midwest Christian bubble. I decided to make serving them a priority so I’d clear their plates from the dinner table, make birthday cards for everyone to sign for each birthday, and literally found ways to let them know I loved them through serving. That completely opened the door to authentic relationships and opportunities to share my faith. If I had walked in pointing out how they missed the mark or removed myself from interacting with them, I never would have had those God conversations.
Be authentic
Honestly, just be yourself. Don’t try to be uber spiritual and use deep, theological words. Share your story and let the person know you care about them. That’s it!
Ask questions and listen
Use the opportunities you have in witnessing to really engage in conversation. Start with empathizing; Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Let the person know you are there and care about what they are saying.
Try to dig a little deeper by asking questions regarding their life and story. Once asked, let them talk without interruption and really listen to what they have to say. It’s through conversation that you can open up to share your own story and talk about the goodness of God. Don’t be afraid to use Bible verses and talk about what Christ did on the cross. Use the opportunity of conversation to lead people to Jesus.
Being an effective witness is first and foremost living your life in a way that others will want to know more. But it’s also about the verbal component of telling people about Christ, sharing your testimony, and personally inviting people to church.
