Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?” Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
JOHN 18:37 MSG
Being a witness is not a program; it’s a lifestyle. God has given us the power to be a witness in our seemingly insignificant day-to-day lives. At the kids’ school, at moms group, at the grocery store, at the gas station, at the sports club, at the office, there are endless opportunities to bear witness to his truth. We show our “neighbor” what authentic Christianity looks like in a practical way when we live lives that are flourishing and that demonstrate the claims of Christ actually work where the rubber hits the road.
When Jesus was speaking to Pilate, he said that he came to earth to bear witness to the truth, and his words have profound implications for each and every one of us. Jesus did not come only to proclaim the truth (which is imperative) but also to ensure that every aspect of his life was bearing witness to that truth.
Similarly, our lives ought to be bearing witness to the truth of God’s Word: in our relationships, our lifestyles, our habits, our spending priorities, the moral choices we make, our values and dreams. If we fail to live according to the Word we preach, then we will have little or no impact on the world around us.
Our friends do not want to be exposed to a series of religious rules or rituals; they want to see that this faith-life works. Then they will believe that it is true.
MOMENT OF REFLECTION
What truth about God have you learned through experience?
How does that truth influence your thoughts and behaviors?