Introduction
It is often said that true thanksgiving is “thanks-living”. This means that Christians are to live each day with a thankful heart. Such a heart overflows with gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ for all that He has done.
Psalm 116:12 asks, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” The answer is found in verses 13–14: “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.”
Through a life of thanks-living, Christians are able to impact the world around them. When we live each day with a joyful heart, the joy of the Lord is manifested through our lives, and the lives of those around us are influenced. This is true Christian witnessing.
When Jesus called the twelve disciples and entrusted them with the gospel mission, He told them, “freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Therefore, a witnessing life is one in which, through our lives, we freely and joyfully give to the world what we have freely received from the Lord.
Why Should We Witness to the World?
The answer lies in the words of the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:9–10:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people . . . which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Peter describes the immense spiritual privileges given to God's believing people: “a chosen generation”, “a royal priesthood”, “an holy nation”, and “a peculiar people”.
Every believer is set apart by God according to His eternal, covenantal love and sovereign purpose. In Christ, believers are not merely rescued from judgment but are graciously constituted a people of great privilege and honour in His sight.
What, then, should be our responsibility in the service of God?
The apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”
Likewise, Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Every believer in Jesus Christ therefore has a compelling and rightful obligation to serve Him faithfully. Our service is the proper response to God's abundant mercies. All that we are today is “by the mercies of God”; therefore, a life wholly yielded to Him is both our duty and our delight.
How Should We Witness to the World?
Peter says that believers should “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”.
The expression “shew forth” means to proclaim, declare, or publish abroad. Christians are called not merely to possess the truth but to proclaim it—to declare openly the excellencies, mighty deeds, and saving grace of God as experienced in their lives.
Christian witnessing is powered by what the Lord has done for us. Having received His power and grace, we are moved to press forward and declare to the world the mighty works He has accomplished in our lives.
This happens in two ways.
First, we declare to the world the excellencies and greatness of the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians have the privilege of declaring the mighty power of Christ revealed through the Gospel—the power by which even hardened sinners can be saved through the redemption accomplished at Calvary.
Romans 1:16 declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”.
As we ourselves have experienced the transforming power of the Gospel, our personal testimony lends weight and authenticity to our witness.
Second, we demonstrate to the world the goodness of the Lord in our lives. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
The Gospel's transforming power is not merely to be professed but visibly expressed through our lives. When the fruit of the Spirit is manifested in our lives, it becomes a powerful witness.
Having been richly blessed by the Gospel's power, we must be ready to be a blessing to others through it.
Blessed to be a blessing!
When God's People Rejoice, the World Takes Notice
Psalm 126 gives us a powerful picture of thanksgiving becoming a testimony.
When the LORD restored the captivity of Zion, His people overflowed with joy and thanksgiving. Their rejoicing was so evident that even the heathen remarked, “The LORD hath done great things for them” (Psalm 126:2).
Israel herself declared, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (v. 3).
Their captivity had been devastating. Jerusalem had been destroyed and the Temple built by Solomon had been laid waste. Yet after seventy years, God brought deliverance by raising up Cyrus the Great as His instrument.
The depth of their suffering magnified the greatness of their deliverance, and greater deliverance called forth greater praise.
Likewise, when Christians live with joy and gratitude for God's mercies, their lives become a visible witness. The world takes notice, and hearts are influenced by such faithful testimony.
The psalm concludes:
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5–6).
Faithful testimony through sowing the precious seed of God's Word will, by God's grace, result in a joyful harvest—the winning of precious souls for His kingdom.
Conclusion
Only when the power of the Gospel is truly and genuinely experienced does our witness become sincere, effective, joyful, and enriching.
We who are heirs of the true Gospel must arise with grateful hearts and faithfully fulfil the Great Commission through joyful witnessing.
Psalm 67:1–7 beautifully captures this vision. God blesses His people so that His saving way may be made known among all nations.
Here we see the divine pattern: God blesses His people, not for self-indulgence, but that His saving way may be made known among all nations.
As we rejoice in His mercy and grace, we are compelled to proclaim His salvation, so that the nations may come to praise Him.
Source: Bible Witness, Volume 26, Issue 3 (May–June 2026), pp. 13–16.
Author: George Skariah, pastor of Covenant Reformed Church, Bangalore, India.