Witness, witnessing, coming forth to witness. Do you dread that call from the county when it is time for you to be called to serve in the court system? How about when God called you to witness? You know what I am talking about. That situation when God is asking you to offer comfort to someone or stepping up to the job at hand. Being aware instead of ignoring, or perhaps training ourselves to become more aware of the things that God is asking of us. How do we do that? By coming to God in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to stir inside of us and open our eyes and ears to those in need around us. God has work for us, let us get to work.
Isaiah 62:1-5 1)For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’ sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning. 2)The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate. 3)You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4)It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,” nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”; But you will be called, “My delight is in her,” and your land, “Married”; For the LORD delights in you, and to Him your land will be married. 5)For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you. Frequently in Isaiah, he is pointing to Christ. Here Isaiah is witnessing to what God is calling him to do. Sharing the news of one who is coming, how we will be married to Christ. Talking about the present time of the old testament as forsaken and desolate to the coming of glory
Psalms 36:5-10 5)Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 6)Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O LORD, You preserve man and beast. 7)How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your winds. 8)They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9)For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. 10)O continue Your loving kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart. In this passage we hear of the love and sharing that God grants to us. The imagery of being in the shadow of His wings so that we might see the light better, we all understand that. Think about it. We are granted that privilege by knowing Him, to see more clearly His intent for us, His children.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 1)Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2)You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3)Therefore I make known to you that on one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4)Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5)And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6)There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7)But to each one is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8) For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9)to another faith by the same Spirit, and “to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10)and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy; and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11)But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each on individually just as He wills. What does that mean to each of us? The Holy Spirit has missions for each of us for the good of God. It means that what we are good at or what we recognize through the Spirit is the intention of God. To do His work. That person next to you has a different mission with the same goal, serve God, carry out the will of God. Yes, it IS that intimate!
John 2:1-11 1)On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2)and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3)When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4)And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5)His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6)Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7)Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” so they filled them up to the brim. 8)And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9)When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10)and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11)This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. This story, this miracle has been told to us. Let’s look at some of the subtle things here. Could it be that the Holy Spirit prompted Mary to ask Jesus for this act? That perhaps Jesus needed a little prodding to get what He knew was a head started? We don’t know these answers, but back to us and our witnessing with the special gifts given only to us, please be mindful, please pray for the clarity of what is being asked of us. The gentle prodding that we need to get started again.
Through Christ, seek God,
D.J. Schoneweis