Live as Servants of God

In your living is your witness. You are praying and preaching and proclaiming Christ in everything that you do --- every word, every deed, every thought, every plan, every action and reaction. And are you proclaiming properly and truthfully? Are you showing Christ without messing with the message? Or are you involved in a wild game of “telephone” where the wording ends up garbled? The world is waiting to see and to criticize and to condemn. But you have the Word of the LORD in your heart. You have help; you have the Holy Spirit within you. How do you speak? How do you live? How do you walk? How do you interact? How do you love? How do you give? Do you think before you speak? Is there wisdom in your words? Is there wisdom in your silence? Is there compassion in your touch? Is there peace in your endurance? Is there calm in the chaos? Is Christ evident in your broadcast and even in the mirror? What does the world see, and what do you see, and what does God see? Are you witnessing without ceasing --- and without embellishment and without tarnishment? Be still and listen! Be still and hear! Be still and obey! And let the majesty and wonder and holiness and purity and strength shine through. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And don’t beat yourself up. Even in your imperfection, Christ can shine through! When you are weak, He is strong! Trust! Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, in everything and for everything, and He will direct your paths and make them straight. And your witness and your words and your life will shine through.

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect for everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  –- 1 Peter 2:15-17