Being a Witness

1 Peter 4:11

11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In reading this today, I was first reminded of what Jesus said in His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, “33 Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”  Here He was explaining that we shouldn’t have to say, “ swear” or “I promise” because usually what we say isn’t true or trustworthy.  Peter is continuing in his letter to explain God’s purpose and God’s design for us, His creation.

I discussed in depth yesterday about what it means to serve God: that we are to worship Him, but that we are all designed to do it differently.  Whatever the case may be, as Paul said in Colossians 3, 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” This is part of our witness; this is part of us sharing the Gospel.

I quoted a book a few days earlier that said, “we are to behave in a way that warrants questioning and when asked, give the apt response.”  This is part of it!  Peter is encouraging us to work and speak as representatives of God, because we are!  We don’t have a choice once we believe in His salvation and choose to follow Him as a result.  In considering what is “The Lord’s Work,” we must realize that it is everything we do.  In missions school, one teacher mentioned to us how we have secularized our relationship with God.  We have created a difference between “secular and spiritual” and divide our time between the two.  However, Jesus calls us to not be secular at all.  A man cannot serve two masters; so then why do we behave two different ways?

This is something that convicted me early in my walk with God.  I realized I was being two faced: the exact reason why I detested “the church” in the first place!  God doesn’t call us to behave differently for the hour and a half we are at church on Sundays.  He doesn’t say to stop cursing when you have a church picnic.  Rather He encourages us to have a complete change of heart, soul, and mind.  Out of one’s heart is what flows the words and actions.  Why then are our hearts divided?

Our purpose as the creation is the serve the creator, not only because He deserves it but because it is where we will be most fulfilled.  Peter is encouraging us to do this today.  Have you ever had a boss you didn’t like?  Well, it doesn’t matter because we don’t work for them, or the company, or “the man.”  Rather, we work for God.  Similarly, when we talk, it should matter.  How are you supposed to spread the good news of Jesus Christ if nobody wants to listen to you?  Rather, we should make sure what we speak is actually worth speaking.

You represent God; are you behaving in a way that reflects and honors His glory?

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