How do we Witness?

"Witnessing" - whenever that word is spoken in Christian circles, it basically means "telling someone about Christ". However, in general language, "witness" tends to mean something that has been seen. I was contemplating that idea a few months ago, and I think its an important concept. Our witness to the world is not (just) the words we say - it has to be what is seen within us.

My heart is broken by people in the public eye who toss the word "Christian" around, yet continue to live like the rest of humanity, if not worse. Or just everyday people who claim to love the Lord and want to spread His word, yet are caught up in everything in and of the world. How can the world see Christ in us when we live exactly like they do, and have the same "pet sins" that they do?!

I am not just talking about lifestyle, or works. I do believe that once we have come to salvation, our lives will bear fruit - Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven"- not works to obtain salvation, but because of salvation. And I do believe it is immensely important to be separate from the world with our lifestyle. Christ makes explicitly clear that we are not to be of this world, nor caught up in what the world enjoys - our pleasure is to be found in Him, we are to be slaves to Him alone.

But even more so, I think the spirit of God shows Himself in us through our attitudes. Do we have His peace that surpasses all understanding? Or are we fretful, worrying, stressed? Do we love one another, in the way that we are truly commanded? Or do we gossip, argue, cause dissension, prefer ourselves, hold onto unforgiveness, and run others down? Are we meek and humble before others? Or are we striving for our rights and to make ourselves known before men? Do we have joy unspeakable, or are weighed down by the cares of the world? When we do stumble and make mistakes, how do we recover? In a way that demonstrates God's grace - confessing guilt and seeking forgiveness, or in the world's way - making excuses and passing blame?

I can tell my children all about the Lord and the wonderful things He has done for us, but if they do not see Christ living in me - it is for nothing, I have become nothing but another "Christian" hypocrite. My job is to live in such a way as to glorify God in all situations. Am I doing that, through my actions and attitudes? Can others see Christ in me, enough to provoke them to ask about the hope that is within?

Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost for His Highest" summed it up well in today's reading, and explains wonderfully HOW we accomplish these things:

	CAREFUL UNREASONABLENESS
"Behold the fowls of the air." . . . "Consider the lilies of the field." Matthew 6:26, 28 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars and the moon - all these are, and what a ministration they exert. So often we mar God's designed influence through us by our self-conscious effort to be consistent and useful. Jesus says that there is only one way to develop spiritually, and that is by concentration on God. "Do not bother about being of use to others; believe on Me" - pay attention to the Source, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. We cannot get at the springs of our natural life by common sense, and Jesus is teaching that growth in spiritual life does not depend on our watching it, but on concentration on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows the circumstances we are in, and if we keep concentrated on Him we will grow spiritually as the lilies. The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mould us. If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live."

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit"

Galatians 5:19-25