Daily Devo
Don’t Ruin Your Christian Witness
By: Keefe Wilson
Saturday, October 26, 2024
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Recently, my wife and I learned that Mama Kelli, a beloved Hawaiian sister we served with in Okinawa went to be with the Lord. Hearing this news brought back memories of a mission trip to the Philippines we went on with her. After we arrived, we set out to visit a missionary school near the picturesque Mayon volcano. It was close to the ocean, so Mama Kelli and I took a walk along the beach. I brought my Bible with me in case we met someone to share the gospel with. Sure enough, we saw a group of people and started witnessing. Suddenly, a man rushed over, grabbed my Bible and tried to toss it into the sea! As we wrestled, I became angry and was about to hit him. Mama Kelli stopped me by shouting, "Don't hit him—you'll ruin your witness!"
After I stopped, I realized the entire crowd was watching me... When the man who tried to take my bible ran off, we continued sharing the gospel. Looking back, I am still grateful I listened to her wise advice—it not only stopped me from ruining my witness, it enabled us to lead some of those people to the Lord! When life gets busy, it's easy to forget how much our words and actions can affect others. Our Christian witness— (the way we live our faith) —will either draw people to Christ or push them away. When Jesus said "let your light shine before others"—it wasn't a suggestion, it was a command. A Christ followers' life should be beacon of light that points people to God. But if our witness is inconsistent or uncaring, we are sending out mixed messages that will confuse others about Jesus.
Remember, you are carrying Christ's name wherever you go... people may not read the Bible, but they're reading us! As Christ's ambassadors, our actions, attitudes, and words must reflect His character. This means avoiding things that damage our witness —things like cussing, gossiping, spreading negativity, arguing about politics, being judgmental, or being quick to anger. Those things are hurtful and cause us to be a poor witness for Christ. Living according to God's Word honors Christ and shows others what following Jesus looks like. But if our behavior contradicts the gospel, we are misrepresenting Jesus. Claiming to be a Christian and living like one are two completely different things—actions speak louder than words. Always shine brightly for Christ—our world is watching.
Christ follower, don't ruin your witness! Someone may come to know Jesus by watching how you follow Him.