Us With Jesus: Ministry

UWJ|SYF9: Witnessing is about Love

9Witnessing is about Love

In the end, witnessing is all about love! “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). And we witness to others because of what God has done for us. He promises, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3, KJV).

God’s love is amazing because it reaches us right where we are, while we’re still sinners (Rom. 5:8). This was certainly true for me, as I experienced a profound witness while still an unconverted atheist. While working as a nurse, I met a woman who did not have long to live and was questioning her worldview. “Are you a Christian?” she asked. “What happens when people die? How does one accept Christ? How do you pray?”

I resisted her questions, saying, “I’m an atheist like you. I’m trying to walk away from the very things you’re seeking to accept!”

She responded kindly, “What would your father say about the questions I asked?” Somehow she had figured out that my father was a minister. Though I did not enjoy it one bit, I began to share what my father would say in answer to her questions, and, as I spoke, a sense of peace came over her face. The dramatic change amazed me.

Asking for a Bible, she began to read God’s Word and started coming to faith. I still remember her last day, her last breath actually, for I was there. As she lay dying, she looked me straight in the eye and asked a question that would haunt me—and lead to my conversion. She asked, “Would you pray for me?”

Even though I didn’t pray at that time in my life, I did it for her. Can you imagine? One atheist asking another to pray for her? She came to faith, and later, so did I! I can’t wait to meet her at the Resurrection to share the impact her question had on my life.

If God could use me—a rebellious atheist—to witness, He can certainly use you. Claim the promise of divine guidance in Isaiah 50:4, 5. Use Christ’s method of listening and questioning found in Luke 24. Share the timeless doctrines of love summarized in the first chapter of Revelation. And finally, go forward, trusting the promise of 1 Timothy 4:16:

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”