The Holy Spirit witnesses on Jesus' behalf (Jn 15:26), and we must do the same. The world is wrong about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is calling us to the witness stand to prove this (Jn 16:8). Our testimony will convict the world on three counts – that it is wrong about sin, justice, and condemnation (Jn 16:8).
Because the world is guilty and our witness will prove it, the world will pressure us not to witness to the truth. It will make sure that if we witness for Jesus, we will be persecuted, rejected even at church, and possibly put to death (Jn 16:2).
Nevertheless, we must witness, for we are the evidence that Jesus is innocent, and the world guilty. We are not going to let people continue to reject Jesus. We are not going to let a rebellious, sinful world get off because of a mistrial. We will give our witness with power so that others have no doubt about the truth (see Acts 4:33). We must repent of any false witness resulting from compromising with the world. We have to back up our words with a life of total commitment to the Lord. We need power from the Holy Spirit; then we will be Jesus' witnesses (Acts 1:8). The world will then be proven wrong and challenged to repent and believe in Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the opportunity to correct any false impressions I've given others about Jesus because of my lukewarmness and apathy. |
| PROMISE: | "She already reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying." –Acts 16:14 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. John I repaired a fifty-year schism between the Roman and Byzantine churches. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College