1 Why Pocket Share?
Why become a digital witness for Jesus? What is a digital witness? Why is this book titled, “Pocket Share Jesus?”
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called and commissioned to share our stories of how He has and continues to transform our lives. The interactive, connected, digital landscape in which we live provides a wealth of opportunities for us to share about God and our faith with others. Anyone with an Internet-connected smartphone, tablet or other computer today can not only access and consume a wealth of digital content in various media formats, s/he can also share ideas, images, and videos with a global audience. While this prospect can seem alarming to the parents of teenagers, it can and should seem thrilling to the followers of Jesus who are commanded to share his Gospel of light with and in a world shrouded in darkness.
by We’re all publishers now. While this empowering feature of Internet access has unfortunately been exploited by racist and authoritarian groups as well as individuals to amplify their perspectives and opinions, the same potential to use the tools powerfully “for good and not for evil” is available to followers of Jesus. As Christians, it’s important for us to consider how we are and can use the digital technologies and connections at our fingertips to carry out the Great Commission of Christ and share his Gospel with our neighbors next door as well as around the world. Jesus’ Great Commission and God’s instructions for us to share the love he has planted into our hearts applies to the digital world as well as our face-to-face relationships with others.
In Psalm 71:15-18 we read:
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
In 1 Peter 3:15 we read:
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
In Matthew 5:16 we read:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The list of Biblical references to testimony and the importance of God’s people sharing God’s story with each other is extensive.[1] We can use digital text, images, audio recordings, drawings and videos to share our stories and our testimonies about the reality, power, and love of Jesus Christ.
If you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, it is my prayer you will come into that knowledge and that relationship. God sent his only Son to our earth so we could find forgiveness for our sins and live in relationship with God our Father.[2] God calls us to confess our sins to Him, and to ask for His forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is a gift of GRACE, not of WORKS. This is not something we can earn, it is something we must choose to receive. When we confess our sins with our lips and profess faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we receive his forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.
Through Jesus, God gives us the fruits of His Spirit to experience and share with others. In Galatians 5:22-23 we read:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We are blessed to live in an earthly age when we have opportunities to share our ideas, experiences, faith, and Christian witness on a global stage: the world-wide web of the Internet. I invite you to join me as a digital witness for Jesus Christ.
by Wesley Fryer
