Ephesians 1:13a,b In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, …

I find it curious that this verse shows a clear indication that trust was established before the “word of truth” was heard. So many times we hear or have been involved in witnessing to unbelievers about the offer of salvation offered thru Jesus Christ and are met with hostility, rejection and personal attacks. Is it possible that this happens because we forgot the first principle of witnessing? Trust must first be established before our words will carry any weight in a conversation. It comes down to this one truism.

“Show me what you’ve got.”

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

So often we think that all we have to do is speak the truth and the truth will do the work. In some cases it does but I suspect that the truth rings true to those whose ears it falls upon because someone else has laid the foundation of trust in those lives.

I have only a few friends that knew me back when. Few because what I was drove people away. The people I know now have no idea what I was like before I surrendered to Christ. They know me now, they have a measure of trust and respect in who I am today. They are willing to accept that I have changed, my witness is accepted by them because like me, Jesus changed their lives.

Not everyone I know trusts me. I have not proven myself to them yet. Even my first wife and children took a year to come to believe I had changed and they lived with me every day. Trust does not come just because I say “Trust me!”

“Show me what you’ve got.”