Witness

Witness

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

Philemon 1:6, NIV

If our lives are built on a vertical relationship with Christ, we will be motivated to move outward horizontally, bearing witness of that relationship to others. To be an effective communicator of our faith to those around us, we need to be aware of the good things we have in Christ.

Colossians 3:12-17 reminds us what the “wardrobe” of the Christian includes—the virtues that develop as we walk with Jesus:

1. Compassion—a tender heart
2. Kindness—thoughtfulness, understanding, and generosity
3. Humility—lack of pride and pretentiousness
4. Gentleness—a mild and pleasant nature
5. Patience—a willingness to endure
6. Forbearance—bearing with one another
7. Forgiveness—after dealing with our complaints, we stop blaming each other
8. Love—being devoted to one another, thus bringing unity and wholeness.
9. Peace—being in harmony with each other
10. Thankfulness—gratitude and appreciation
11. Love for God’s Word—allowing it to dwell in our hearts, and then wanting to share it with others
12. A desire to please Jesus. Warren Wiersbe writes, “What blessings would come to our homes if each member of the family said, ‘I will live each day to please Christ and make him preeminent in all things.’ There would be less selfishness and more love; less impatience and more tenderness; less wasting of money on foolish things and more living for the things that matter most.”^a

These are the garments of our wardrobe that bear witness to those around us that we know Christ.

Father,

Just as we spend time taking care of our wardrobe, may we spend time with you through your Word and prayer. We want the garments of our hearts to point people around us to you. Amen.