“The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:1-8 NASB)
The passage above is filled with profitable words, inasmuch as they are part of scripture, and all scripture is inspired by God. While I think the validation of Jesus’ victory over death and the verifying of His resurrection over a period of forty days, proving that we indeed serve a living Savior should definitely not be overlooked, and while we should be uplifted by the uttered words of Jesus promising to send the Holy Spirit, today, on this first day of the new year, I want to point to the latter part of the passage, “And you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
As you set sail on the sea of time, all the days that you are blessed to see, sailing through this new year over peaceful stream and stormy sea times, there is something I think all of us, you, me and all other believers, should commit to doing in an excellent fashion, doing more effective, and doing with more exerted energy, without any exception to anywhere, near or far, that we find ourselves, geographically, economically, or socially. What is it exactly we should commit to? We should commit to being His witnesses! We should strive to live in such a way that we can declare with integrity, “I’m a witness for the Lord!”
I’m not saying that we should make a New Year resolution, for such resolutions are short lived. However, I am saying that we should resolve (make a firm decision, commit to doing) to really be Jesus’ witnesses. As a matter of fact, each of us can be star witness. Each of us, including you, can testify to the fact that Jesus is real! Each of us can verify that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Each of us can look back over our lives or even just the last year and look where He brough us from. Think about it! He is the One who saved you! He is the One who changed you! He is the One who comes willing to aid you when you ask for His help! He is the One of whom you can say, knowing He gave you new sight, “I once was blind, but now I see. I once was lost, but now I am found.” Each of us can tell what a difference He really makes day by day, and year after year, and even today, already, at the start of a new year, He already is making a difference in each of us! You are a star witness, my friend! I am a star witness! So let us resolve, not making a resolution, butt us make a firm decision that will be followed by action to be what we are and do what Jesus commissioned us to do.
Below are some lyrics from a song composed and performed by Rev. Timothy Wright; words that we should make our song this year. Read them and then listen to the song on your electronic device, perhaps not just today, but often if not every day. Be blessed!
“I’ll be (I’ll be a witness)
Sanctified witness (sanctified witness)
I’ll be (I’ll be a witness)
A witness for the Lord (a witness for the Lord)
Jesus came and lifted me, now I’ve got the victory
I’m a witness (I’m a witness for the Lord)
Pick me up and turn me around, place my feet on solid ground, I’m a witness (I’m a witness for the Lord)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King