Reaction Witness

This week I have been attending a few nights of revival at a local church that I'm affiliated with. The evangelist has been empowering, thought-provoking, and such a blessing! Last night his message was convicting and encouraging and yet what stood out to me the most was the words spoken to me after the sermon was over.

A gentleman that I have the honor of knowing spoke with Justin and I for a few moments. The words he spoke will be embedded in my mind for weeks to come I'm sure. He recently heard a Pastor speak about how we stay hung up on things. How we hold onto hurts. Things people say or do. As he spoke with me, the message from the night pinged in the back of my mind.

The Evangelist spoke about how anyone can be an Andrew. Let me wrap it into a nugget for you. Andrew was the brother of Peter. When Andrew heard/met with Jesus he ran to tell Peter. We all hear stories all the time about Peter. The man who walked on water. But there wouldn't have been a Peter if there hadn't have been an Andrew. We might not all be a Peter and be like Billy Graham. But we can all be an Andrew and tell our friends about Christ.

Once I talked to this guy after the sermon I thought about my witness to those after something bad had happened. Or if my life is falling apart, how does my reaction witness to others. How do the things that happen around me affect my relationship with Christ? When something bad occurs in our life it shouldn't impact our relationship with God. I can only say that because as I was making breakfast God showed me.

If we go to Luke 22 we see the story of Jesus praying in the Mount of Olives. This is where Jesus prayed for the cup to pass from him. This was a vital moment for him. He knew what was in God's plan for him. When he came down off the mountain, his amigos were taking a nap. All of a sudden there was a group of people that showed up following one of his close friends. Jesus turned to address Judas and said, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Judas was one of the 12 disciples. The people who walked with him. Who spent time with him. His closest friends. He was betrayed and hurt by this man. When all of a sudden the others who were with him rose up and asked if they should cut them. One actually cut an ear of a guard off. Jesus told them to stop and then he healed the man. STOP!

Jesus's reaction could have been anything. He could have got mad at Judas. He could have gotten depressed and fell down and screamed 'why.' BUT HE DIDN'T! He continued to carry out the call of God for his life. His reaction was to keep going no matter what had happened. Can we honestly say that we do that?

Can we say that we react like that to circumstances? There is a lot of things I'm dealing with personally, in our home, and in our lives. And I have over 500 friends on facebook that I probably haven't invited to church. Or talked to about Jesus. What kinda life is that? What kinda Christian am I?

I know that you might be going through a dark season but you have to remember that people are watching you. People watch how you react to everything. If people wrong you or hurt you, you have to let it go. If someone accuses you of something, you have to let it go. YOUR reaction to things is what others see. Not the circumstances. You don't hear, "Man that is a terrible thing they are going through." You hear others say things like, "This is why I don't go to church. This is why I'm not a christian. This is why I don't believe in organized religion."

Think about the situations that you have been holding onto today and think about the best way to let them go. Think about whatever you are bitter about and let it go. Bitterness stinks on people. Seriously, it does. Unforgiveness rots your heart. I could go on and on with the 'Christian' phrases you need to know but I'm not. JUST LET IT GO! Because your reaction to whatever it is, may be a bigger witness than you think.