Witness

Witness

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.

Matthew 5:13-15

While doing some last-minute shopping one week before Christmas, I stumbled on a sale at Gap. Several racks of young men’s sweaters had been priced at ten dollars each—a big bargain for sweaters I knew my sons would enjoy.

After purchasing three sweaters, I left the store feeling excited about discovering such a great sale. Thinking that the news was too good to keep to myself, I mentioned it to several friends I spoke with throughout the day. If my friends still had any shopping left to do, I figured they might find something for their kids too.

Later, I got to thinking about my happy discovery and the excitement with which I shared it. Why is it, I thought, that I’ll call a friend and share good news about a sale on sweaters at Gap, but sometimes I’m not as quick to share good news about gifts that Christ has given to me?

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, I’ve received peace with God, a new identity, forgiveness of sin, the presence of God’s Spirit, wisdom for the asking, and much more. I wouldn’t call a friend and itemize every Christmas gift I’d bought, nor would I call a friend and describe everything Christ has done for me—the lists would be too long. But I can share one way that Christ is helping me today. I can witness about Christ’s gifts—one person at a time.

Father,

Thank you for the privilege of representing you to others. Help us to do it with joy. Amen.