Living Out Your Witness – Repentance and Submission to God’s
As we encounter people that want or need to hear the Gospel, the power of our testimony is always lessened when we have unconfessed sin in our lives or trying to walk in our own strength. It is like encouraging someone to be in the Word when we have cracked open our Bible in a while. The passion and power of our message is simply not the same when we are separated from God.
It is never fun to admit we are wrong or consider our sin. But being right with God requires we take the more difficult path at times and that means trusting how God will respond. God is always faithful to forgive and respond when we seek him honestly. 1 John 1:9 reminds us:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
This process of creating a repentant heart and regularly confess only happens when we have a humble heart and see our sin like God sees it. In the Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer says:
Until we have seen ourselves as God see us, we are not likely to be much disturbed over conditions around us as long as they do not get so far out of hand as to threaten our comfortable way of life. We have learned to live with unholiness and have come to look upon it as the natural and expected thing.
We need to be mature and recognize we are still being sanctified. This also means we still need God’s love and grace. As we find forgiveness and feel the peace of God’s forgiveness, we are empowered to share the Gospel and our testimony with more authenticity. We can share stories of God’s mercy, kindness and love towards us and all sinners. We can speak more clearly into how we have all made mistakes we regret and sinned in ways that bring us shame.
This all starts with a heart and posture of submission to God. Acknowledging who God is and what he has done is the means to surrender. Just as Jesus humbly submitted to His Father’s will, we must trust in God’s desire to forgive, restore, and bless those who completely surrender to Him. Psalm 91:4 reminds us of the protection God offers:
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Submission reminds us that we have a good and gracious God. It prepares us to share the Gospel and evangelize with a pure heart and washed slate. Sharing Jesus is an act of love and what better way to prepare than to experience God’s love ourselves.
