Witness

Witness

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

1 Peter 3:15

While I was walking with my friend Ruthie one morning, she related something that had happened the day before. She had been to see her regular hairdresser for a trim, and the hairdresser asked, “What makes you the way you are? You live a charming life, although I know you encounter difficult things like everybody else. But you’re cheerful, and you don’t bad-mouth other people. So what’s different about you?”

First, Ruthie laughed and jokingly suggested, “I must be blessed with lots of serotonin in my blood!” Then she offered, “My life is different because of my relationship with Jesus Christ.” Her hairdresser responded that she suspected it would have something to do with religion. Ruthie later followed through on that initial question, and seeds of truth are being planted. I came away from my walk with Ruthie reminded that people notice attractive qualities in those who are part of God’s Kingdom.

Each spring break my family vacations on the beach in Florida, where we spend a whole week in the sun. Upon our return to Illinois, friends often ask, “Where have you been? It must have been somewhere warm!” When we spend lots of time with God’s Son, in prayer and in God’s Word, people will notice that too—beginning with our families. Our lives will be different. They will see the attractive fruits of God’s Spirit and find hope.

Father,

We are encouraged when people who don’t know you notice there’s something different about people who do. May we walk closely to you in obedience so we will never be a disgrace to your Kingdom. Amen.