What does it mean to witness? (Henri Nouwen)

  How does the Spirit of God manifest itself through us?  Often, we think that to witness means to speak up in defense of God.  This idea can make us very self-conscious.  We wonder where and how we can make the God the topic of our conversations and how to convince our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues of God’s presence in their lives. But this explicit missionary endeavor often comes from an insecure heart and, therefore, easily creates divisions.

  The way God’s Spirit manifests itself most convincingly is through its fruits:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).  These fruits speak for themselves.  It is therefore always better to raise the question, How can I grow in the Spirit? than the question How can I make others believe in the Spirit?

--Henri Nouwen

Image source: Giovanni Paolo Panini, St. Paul Preaching Amid Ruins, ca. 1735, 
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