The Silent Christian

TITLE: The Silent Christian
DATE:  November 4, 2019
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: Luke 22: 66b - 71 - ESV - and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Quite often it is the things we say which get us into trouble.

When the pastor and his wife went out for dinner with another couple, none of them could finish the steaks they had ordered. They asked the waiter for doggie bags. He was intrigued when their friend’s wife went into a long description about the size and appetite of her dog.

Knowing she didn't have a dog, the pastor asked, "Why the story?" The lady explained, "I think the waiter suspects the leftovers are for me, so I tell the dog story. That way he won’t think I am a cheap customer.”

Minutes later the waiter plopped down three regular sized doggie bags and one BIG ONE. With pride, he said, "I found pieces of steak from other plates so I wrapped them all together for your dog."

The lady was caught by her own words.

The priests said Jesus was condemned by His words. There is a difference. The lady in the story had lied. Jesus had told the truth. From the lips of anyone else than Jesus of Nazareth, those words would have been false. Coming from Jesus, they are the truth.

How tragic that these religious men were blinded by the Devil’s lies.

They couldn't see that the lies were in their minds, not in Jesus' words. Because of their blindness, Jesus continued on the way to the cross.

As Christians, we give thanks that we have, by the Spirit's power, seen and heard God's Truth.  Not only that we are now given the chance to bear witness to the truth and power of the Christ. Bu the question is, “Do we ?”

If someone were to turn you in for being a Christian, what are the three charges they would list as proof of  your faith? Years ago I ran into one of my church members who hadn’t been in church for 3 years. I asked him, “John, why did you leave the church?” He replied in surprise, “Pastor, I’m shocked to hear you say it. I’m still a member.”

That’s wonderful, I replied, but if you had left the church, what would you be doing differently than what you’re doing right now?”  

Now it is our job to witness to Jesus. With our lives and our lips we need to proclaim Him as Savior and Lord. We must reject the falsehoods of Satan who would demote Jesus to a mere leader, rather than the Savior of men.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me avoid being a silent member of the congregation. Let me be convicted by Your love to me. Let me share my faith with others, so that in all I do, people may say, "This is a Christian." In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html