1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Here is the perfect New Testament guide to personal witnessing. All sorts of witnessing systems have been devised and taught, but none improve on this; at best they expand on it. If a person is not living with Jesus as Lord, any witnessing they do will quickly be seen as hypocrisy and will probably be counterproductive. Every facet of our lives must be on the foundation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. That is a choice, as this passage indicates. He is Lord, but we must set Him on the throne of our own hearts by our choice. If we will do that, then our hearts will be filled with the hope that only He gives, that this world hardly even dreams of. When our lives radiate that hope, then the difference between us and those without that hope will be obvious, and those with honest humility will ask us about it. Then and only then does verbal witnessing come into play. This is not collaring people on the street and asking them if they are ready to meet God! This is preparing the soil of their hearts to receive the seed of the Word we speak, so that it may be received, sprout, and bear rich fruit. Peter goes on to specify how we are to speak, and that is with gentleness and respect. I’ve seen “witnessing” that lacked both of those qualities! That can actually immunize people against the Gospel. However, if our hearts are right, then as Peter says, people will end up being ashamed of the things they say against us to try to justify themselves by ridiculing us.

Ministering in Japan, I can’t off hand think of a single “witnessing program” I learned in the US that has been effective. People simply don’t have the cultural background that has been assumed by such programs. However, witnessing that is effective in Japan would probably be quite effective in post-modern America! The kind of witnessing Peter describes isn’t dependent on culture in any way, but rather on the beauty of Christ, projected through those who make Him Lord. My challenge as a pastor is to help people be willing to share even when they are asked. Actually, in Japan the probability of their being asked is much lower than in many other cultures, because they are a very private people, so Christians need to let it be known that they are willing to be asked. The challenges are very real, but nothing is too difficult for the Holy Spirit!

Father, thank You for the opportunities You’ve given me for witness here in this hospital. The lady just now said she will miss seeing my kind face! Whether it has been by word or by attitude, I pray that everyone You have touched through me would be unable to forget it, and would be drawn not to me but to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!