“I was reading again earlier this morning about John the Baptist,” Stan commented one morning, “and I saw that I’m to be just like him.”
“Just like him?” I replied. “How? Like wandering around in the desert eating bugs and wearing clothes made out of camel’s hair?”
“No,” Stan said, “more like how he was described by another John, the apostle John in his gospel account.”
“And that is what?” I asked.
“The apostle John described John the Baptist as someone who was sent by God to bear witness of Jesus. And it seems to me that the same two things apply to me, as well as to each person self-described as a Christian.”
“Be sent by God?”
“That’s what Jesus said when He was talking about making disciples,” Stan said. “He said to go into the whole world. If that’s not being sent by God, I don’t know what is!”
“And, by definition,” I replied, “I guess that includes being a witness of Jesus.”
“More than a guess, my friend,” Stan said. “It seems to me that’s exactly what Jesus said to do when He said to go into the world, make disciples, and teach them to observe all that He had commanded.”
“Okay,” I responded. “Got it. I’m to be just like John the Baptist.”
“You, me, and the rest,” Stan replied.
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Bible verses to consider:
There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. John 1:6-8.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you so loved the world, including me, that you sent your only begotten Son so that all who believe can have life eternally with you when it’s time, along with the eternal life of knowing you and your Son on this side of eternity. Thank you, too, for those you sent to tell me the truth so I could accept your free and gracious gift. I confess that too often I do not go into the world as you intend and, as a result, there are those who I don’t tell about you and your every provision. Please forgive me and please help me in following every step of your lead so I do bear witness exactly as you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of the One about Whom I’m to bear witness. Amen.
Think on this: Do you have the assurance of salvation so that you will spend eternity in God’s presence when your time here is done? If no, why? If you do have that assurance, how are you doing in being sent by God to bear witness to the light of Christ? Do you sense you are sent by God? If so, are you going? If you are going are you bearing witness? If you sense some changes may be needed, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 